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16 October 2014
大象传媒 NI - Eyewitness

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Catholic schoolboys from north Belfast Image of Catholic schoolboys, backdrop Irish flag

We have a lot of culture, Irish culture. I think that the main thing that has to happen is the Protestants are going to have to accept that they're Irish as well. We're not the only Irish people, they're Irish, they were born in Ireland. It might be called Northern Ireland, it might be part of the British state, but it's still Ireland no matter what they say. Yes, they may find it easier to come and join their culture - as it is their culture as well. But why would we go in to learn their culture when it's very sectarian bigotry? Their culture is about the paramilitaries - I find that no interest to me, like.

Ok, so your reflections on culture and identity?

Well, the Protestant culture is our culture. The Protestants are Irish even though they don't like to admit it, so basically we are their culture. So I would say that it would be more important for them to learn about the Irish culture, than what it would be for us to learn about the Protestant culture.

Do you sometimes feel that you'd like to go in and learn about how to play the Lambeg drum, or to play some of those traditional Orange tunes on a flute?

Not really, no. It just doesn't interest me; I'd rather stick to the Irish culture, which is our culture.

And do you think by doing that, you're being sectarian?

No. I just feel that, seeing as I am Irish, I would find no point in going and trying to learn about other cultures that have nothing to do with me, if I've no interest in them.

Well I think the Protestant culture is just a rogue culture itself - if it's not an English culture and it's not an Irish culture, what is it, do you know what I mean? The Protestant culture are Irish, right - they are the island of Ireland, that means they're Irish. They don't accept that - they think they're British, but they're not British, do you know what I mean?

Would you like to learn a little bit about their culture, what makes them tick?

No, I'm happy enough with my culture, 'cos I like learning Irish and all the Irish songs and that there. I'm not really interested in Orange, any Orange songs or Protestant songs, you know what I mean?

There's nothing really to do in their culture, there's only their marches and their bigotry, where there's Irish dancing and Irish music and all in our culture.







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