Bertie Given the Message

by eirigi - eirigi Sat Jan 05, 2008 18:31

Some more photos

Outside St Lukes

No withdrawal - No visit

No sign of Ahern

Is that clear enough?

by Annoyed Republican Sat Jan 05, 2008 18:37

Only knew about today's protest when I drove past. I would have joined in only I was on my way to pick up the kids. Fair play to all involved. Ahern needs to hear it good and loud that the British Royals, soldiers or government aren't wanted or needed in this country.

by Danny B - Non-aligned but I used to be! Sat Jan 05, 2008 19:07

5,000 British troops remain in Ireland as a permenant 'garrison' - primary function? 'internal security of the UK'.

MI5 have just opened their largest office outside of their London headquarters - primary function? Irish affairs and to serve as a back up facility should the London HQ be (God forbid) knocked out.

The union is secure through the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement, both of which are based upon an acceptance of the unionist veto

Article 2 of the 26 CO constitution now defines the national territory of Ireland as the twenty-six counties alone.

And now Ahern wants to bring a inbred Royal to demonstrate that the croppies have finally lay down.

It's time that the policy of 'normalisation' was exposed for the anti-democratic lie that it is. And the way to do it? By getting people back on the streets and angry as hell!

To judge by the photos today was a good start, but it needs to be just the beginning of something much bigger.

Ireland free from the centre to the sea!

by Overseas spectator - eirigi Sat Jan 05, 2008 19:38

Sorry I couldn't be there to take part in the protest. Looks like a good start to a very necessary campagin.

eirigi abu!

by Sean Sun Jan 06, 2008 00:27

Remarkable, I hope he gets the messge. Amazing though, where does a non-established group like Éirigi get the money for their propaganda material?

by Kevin O' C Sun Jan 06, 2008 02:15

There is another thread about the Queen of England's proposed visit on Indymedia entitled "No welcome for the English Queen" which gives a more balanced range of viewpoints. To read this thread up to this point you would assume that the majority of Irish people are violently opposed to the visit. The truth is that only a tiny minority of rabid republicans are opposed to it. Most Irish people are either vaguely in favour or completely indifferent to the proposed visit. The rest of us just don't hate as much as you do, that's all.

by Jacobite Sun Jan 06, 2008 02:45

"Most Irish people are either vaguely in favour or completely indifferent to the proposed visit."

How do you know this? Has there been a vote? I must have missed it- damn!

by Kevin O' C Sun Jan 06, 2008 03:05

It seems that not very many people cared enough to protest. A couple of dozen at most. Like I said, apart from a tiny minority of rabid republicans, nobody else shares your hatred.

by Mike - Starry Plough Initiative Sun Jan 06, 2008 04:02

""There is another thread about the Queen of England's proposed visit on Indymedia entitled "No welcome for the English Queen" which gives a more balanced range of viewpoints. To read this thread up to this point you would assume that the majority of Irish people are violently opposed to the visit. The truth is that only a tiny minority of rabid republicans are opposed to it. Most Irish people are either vaguely in favour or completely indifferent to the proposed visit. The rest of us just don't hate as much as you do, that's all.""

Funny that. I wonder why so many passers-by came over to give their verbal support to the demonstrators, and why so many driving by bothered to "beep" their horn in support. I observed only one man who drove by (in an 07 luxury car mind you) who showed any sort of discontent. Out of how many passers by?

You are claiming something as hard fact, when you have nothing to prove your blazingly inaccuarte assertions, propounding the usual socially detached nonsense the mainstream media spout.

Its not a matter of hate, but of opposing a visit by a senior representative of an imperialist state which occupies, against the wishes of the populace of countless city districts and towns around Ulster, large swathes of Ireland through the use of force to maintain its authority - and on an international level, a state which has participated directly in the massacre and slaughter of over a million dead, untold disabled and injured, and very long term problems relating to the use of depleted uranium, deforming countless more for years to come - with a justification based on lies and a motive based on greed.

This monarch represents and embodies an inhumane barbaric state and system. All decent people who consider themselves socially conscious, whether republican, or socialist - should oppose this visit. This opposition is not sectarian, or hateful, nor necessarily republican.

by Dantheman Sun Jan 06, 2008 04:04

Lads, youve hit the nail on the head!
There is widespread opposition to this visit across Dublin.
Please do another protest, and next time try to do more publicity.

You can get hundreds out on this issue if word gets across to the young lads in the inner city.

Good luck and WELL DONE to all involved.

by Joe Sun Jan 06, 2008 05:42

Fair play to Eirigi.

Nice to see the IRSP out as well.

by lulu Sun Jan 06, 2008 18:55

who are the english?
It's the English/British ruling classes that are culpable for so many Imperial crimes; many 'English'/'British' working people have been victims, serfs, & wage-slaves themselves for time out of mind. Many people that we might perceive as 'English' because of their accents will be part-Irish, or sympathetic to Irish causes. The British Army will always get recruits from the scrap-heap of unemployment.
The UK & Europe also owe a huge debt to Irish people who joined British forces to fight the Nazis in WW2; respect to them for their courage . The relationship between Ireland & the UK is hugely complex - no nation or 'race' is too virtuous to be above exploiting others, or their own folk, for money & power.
Nor should we be too proud of our own 'purity' while Ireland is being dragged into the US/UK wars and used as a stepping-stone for rendition/abduction/torture flights.
The Queen's visit could be used for a dignified demonstration for Irish sovereignty & secession from US/UK imperial wars.

by WT Sun Jan 06, 2008 19:53

I'm disappointed to see Eirigi getting involved in this throwback to Sinn Feign protests of the past. I have absolutely no time for, as someone else aptly called her, an English tourist attraction. However I feel that there are more important issues that groups like Eirigi should be getting involved in, like drug dealing and the corruption of Politicians, North and South.
Let the people show their contempt for England's Queen, I'm sure they'll do that by simply ignoring her. If people stay off the streets during her visit then I'm sure that'll be more embarrassing for Bertie.

by Alan Bunbury Mon Jan 07, 2008 01:38

I disagree with this action, and with all those who want to keep the Queen out of Ireland. Ireland is a neutral and sovereign nation, and as a neutral and sovereign nation we are entitled to invite foreign heads of state to the country to improve relations or for whatever reason. By taking this aggressive and over-the-top stance against the royal visit we are degrading Ireland's image and status in the eyes of our neighbours. We seem to be behaving more like angry rioters who have temporarily taken control of some part of the Queendom, rather than a sovereign nation capable of acting with civiliity and restraint towards its closest neighbours.

by Don. Mon Jan 07, 2008 01:52

I'm as republican as the next guy, but the border clearly isnt a british occupation. The Brits have no reason to keep northern Ireland. Margaret Thatcher said so herself.

Personally I dont think she should come to Ireland.

by Mike - Starry Plough Initiative Mon Jan 07, 2008 03:46

"I disagree with this action, and with all those who want to keep the Queen out of Ireland. Ireland is a neutral and sovereign nation, and as a neutral and sovereign nation we are entitled to invite foreign heads of state to the country to improve relations or for whatever reason. By taking this aggressive and over-the-top stance against the royal visit we are degrading Ireland's image and status in the eyes of our neighbours. We seem to be behaving more like angry rioters who have temporarily taken control of some part of the Queendom, rather than a sovereign nation capable of acting with civiliity and restraint towards its closest neighbours."

Neutral? - letting occupation forces travel through Irish airspace and territory is neutral is it, along with possible rendition flights and arms. I suppose if the Soviets during the Cuban missile crisis docked and refueled their merchant vessels and warships in Cobh on their way to Cuba we would be neutral too would we. Titles mean nothing, actions are what count, and on that basis - Ireland is far from being neutral. Its an active participant in an illegal war.

"I'm as republican as the next guy, but the border clearly isnt a british occupation. The Brits have no reason to keep northern Ireland. Margaret Thatcher said so herself."

Well id question where your from and where you live, because I doubt youd be saying there is no occupation if you were living amongst nationalist communities who want to join the republic. As for you being a republican, as in, what, redraw the map and everythings hunky dory sort of republicanism is it - petit-bourgeois nationalism like.

by kickstar - nono Mon Jan 07, 2008 04:41

We don;t even want her in Northern Ireland but we have no choice, But if she can prance about down there then its all a ballocks.She should stay at home

by Don Mon Jan 07, 2008 13:44

The majority of N-IRL dont want a United Ireland, so we dont have a UI. Thats democracy. I'm a democratic Republican. I'm not going to force people that dont to be in my Republic, to be in my Republic, thats imperalism.

by WT Mon Jan 07, 2008 14:33

A Democratic Republican? The latest Sinn Fein excuse for it's participation in a Paisley-Controlled Puppet Government.
What's the difference between a Democratic Republican and a Democratic Unionist?
They both now have the one leader, Paisley.

by Don. - YFG Mon Jan 07, 2008 16:46

I'm not in Sinn Fein! :-) My nationalism would make PSF or RSF look like members of the orange order.

I'm infavour of a United Irish Republic with no monarchy and maximun equality of all cultures, when N-IRL democratically decides to join. I will not "bargin" with britian inorder to get a UI. I'm happy to wait for unionists to become nationalists. Or for the nationist communitty to out-breed the unoinists.

by Joe Reid Mon Jan 07, 2008 17:04

The Queen will come and the crowds will turn out to welcome her. So many Irish people wish that they were Brits, is this not why they watch all the British soaps on the tele, is this not why they buy and read the British trash papers daily and is this not why they refer to English and Scotish soccer teams as "their team". Bertie knows how to play the political game and he knows that the ladies will have the hair done and the new outfit purchased for the visit.Eire the banana republic. God save the Queen.

by saxe-coburg gotha Mon Jan 07, 2008 17:07

The majority of people in Ireland want to be in a Republic, that's obvious, and even counties Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone there a clear majorities in favour of living in a Republic, let alone big meaty chunks of Belfast and every other county in Northern Ireland.

The people in ther six counties who are being forced to live in a monachy against their will would not thank us for allowing a Royal visit here go without a protest. Besides, we protested against Bush- why wouldn't we protest against the Queen of England? What sort of message would that send out?

by Good campagin - none Mon Jan 07, 2008 19:12

In my opinion this is a good campagin. Not just because of the national issues of the queen but also the fact that she is the commander and cheif of an army involved in an illegal war in Iraq. So her visit should be protested aginst in the exact same way that we would protest against a vist from Bush or any other tyrant involved in illegal unjust war or persecution of others anywhere on the globe.

by Anti-Monarchy Mon Jan 07, 2008 19:17

Very impressed with Eirigis work thusfar,particularly on the Shell to Sea campaign.
Keep up the hard graft comrades,Sinn Fein have betrayed their left wing history.
If th Queen does come,we will be on the streets to stop the visit.
Monarchy is not an acceptble element in any W"democratic" society.

by Sceptic Mon Jan 07, 2008 20:00

"Honestly, the things some people get upset about. The latest example of petty-mindedness from our Republican friends comes with the howls of outrage which have greeted the proposed visit to our shores by Ugly Betty herself, the Queen of England.

Speaking on the Joe Duffy show on Christmas Eve, Bertie Ahern said it was "inevitable" that the head of state of our nearest and closest neighbour would eventually pay a visit to the 26 counties.

So far, so hum. After all, the most interest most of us would have in the visit is to simply check that the traffic restrictions don't affect us too much.

But such an appallingly laissez faire attitude is not for the brave Hibernian soldiers of Republican Sinn Fein and éirígí, the splinter republican socialist political party that manages to make even RSF look mainstream.

Yup, they're that far out.

And they're not alone. According to one suitably outraged contributor to the always entertaining indymedia.ie: "It is not acceptable that the English Parasite who is called the 'Queen' should be welcomed to Ireland until such time as she has given a full and abject apology for hundreds of years of theft, murder, torture, rape and other major crimes, too numerous to mention." And, continuing in that entirely reasonable vein, the individual then goes on to suggest that the only reason the Queen -- or should that be "Queen"? -- should be allowed to place her imperialist hoof onto our beloved green soil is if she is " ... willing to make amends. Whether this could ever be by way of financial recompense is a matter for legal minds who should at least consider the political kudos of making such a claim."

This attitude is mirrored by éirígí, whose spokesman David MacMaster fumes that: "Bertie Ahern has stated that there are some outstanding security issues which need to be resolved before an invitation can be extended to Elizabeth Windsor -- on behalf of éirígí, I couldn't agree more. Once Mrs Windsor's government have removed their troops, military installations, paramilitary police force, spies, spooks and all the apparatus of their military and political occupation from the equation, the conditions will be right for the Irish people to have a mature debate on whether an anachronistic, anti-democratic relic of the middle-ages should be asked to visit our country."

Well, while we're having a mature debate about this, why not leave internal British concerns to the British themselves? While it's nice to see that the likes of éirígí are upset that their neighbours across the water have to put up with an "anachronistic, anti-democratic relic of the Middle-Ages", who they choose to represent them as their head of state is hardly any of our concern. They could declare Roland Rat as the head of state and it would still, as a friendly nation, be incumbent upon us to invite him over.

It's a growing sign of both countries' self confidence that as the Irish grow up we are more well disposed towards the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha -- from whence Elizabeth comes -- while the British themselves are becoming increasingly exasperated by the Royals, if not the Queen herself.

And while, if I were British, I would want to see the heads of the Royal family on pikes ringing around Windsor Castle, they are not, ultimately, my problem. Or yours.

The real reason behind the animus towards the visit -- there was a protest planned to take place outside Bertie Ahern's constituency office last Saturday, which was typically pointless for the simple reason that nobody would be there -- is good, old fashioned hatred of the Brits.

But thankfully, the rest of us have copped on a bit and see it for what it is -- bigotry. I seldom feel the need to feel either proud or ashamed of being Irish -- it is, after all, a mere accident of birth and not something worth investing personal emotion into -- but the one occasion I remember feeling genuine pride was the warmth of the response the English anthem got at Croke Park last year.

Damn it, I was so overcome with emotion that, for one brief moment, I was even well disposed towards the GAA for allowing it to happen, although that emotion thankfully faded with time.

But what was important about the singing of the British anthem in Croker, and likewise any visit here by the Queen, is the fact that it's not about the English at all. In many ways they are merely the catalyst for a debate between ourselves about the nature of being Irish.

On one side, we have the unreconstructed Republicans whose argument, when filtered through their own internal logic, makes perfect sense: as long as the six counties are under British rule then we can't have friendly relations with them.

To the rest of us, we are actually thankful that the Brits are burdened with that sectarian kip and the whingers it carries and long may they continue its stewardship because, rather like what happened with the reunification of Germany, accepting the six counties into our domain would bankrupt us. So, if anything, we owe the British monarchy a debt of gratitude.

But there is an even more compelling reason to invite Her Madge over as soon as humanly possible -- it will just drive those Republicans absolutely apoplectic with rage.

And that's always good for a laugh.

- Ian O'Doherty"

by Brendan O'Connor Mon Jan 07, 2008 20:27

The British Troops in the 6 counties are there with the support of SF, who are supporters of paisley and more importantly, supporters of the continued occupation. Eirigi members were fully supportive of this policy by SF before they left over a personality clash with Mary Loo. Why do they now bother protesting over an issue which they slagged RSF members over.

by Anti-Independent Mon Jan 07, 2008 21:55

Brendan O'Connor. You are very badly mis-informed. Me thinks you know this too. Envy perhaps is your motivation. It is poor motivation whatever the case.

Eirigi have had the courage to do what many of us havent. Trying to dismiss their courage wont wash. Primarily because there is nothing of any real substance with which to do it. Whatever about Mary Loos personality, I happen to know that she, thank god, was not a motivating factor in their (very regrettable) decision to leave. These people are and were always 'politicos' and motivated only by politics

by Socialist Mon Jan 07, 2008 23:01

I was present at the protest in a capacity as an Independent Republican. It was well attended and like another poster stated it was good to see that the IRSP attended in a show of solidarity. Unity is strenght.

by D O' D Tue Jan 08, 2008 22:17

Fair play to all involved.

by an seabhac Tue Jan 08, 2008 22:49

I'll treat her visit the same as any other celebrity's/high profile but harmless politician's. I follow an English football team and I speak English. I've no problems being British when I'm abroad. Irish, British and European. But I'm still a republican. Anyway most of the Gaelic irish who I've ever met are interested in the monarchy!

by pangloss Wed Jan 09, 2008 09:59

Sure we'd like to live in a Republic with uk style free national health services, isn't that doable by our promising politicians?

by Tom Williams Wed Jan 09, 2008 21:40

Since the arrival of the Celtic Tiger to these shores, we've divested ourselves of our culture, traditions, spirituality and identity. In order

fully to embrace this new-found Irish nothingness, I believe it's time to invite the Queen to what used to be a special Irish tradition - All

Ireland Day, where she could help to re-enact the Croke Park Massacre. She could break a bottle of champagne on the Armoured Car

before the throw-in, and afterwards she could hand out medals to any Brit soldier seen to have made a definite head-shot.

Romantic Ireland's dead and gone. It's with Democracy in the grave.

by Chrissie Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:13

People are still prepared to defend their homeland in Mayo & the ancient heritage of Tara & the neutrality that politicians have betrayed at Shannon & elsewhere, so don't be too cynical. Many people are too ill-educated & comfortable to want to understand what's going down, but that's not to say they'll never wake up.

by Awaken Thu Jan 10, 2008 14:43

Here's hoping Chrissie. Anyway fair play to éirígí on this protest. Needed to be done. No visit from the head of an army which still occupies our country and others around the world. Good to see them working alongside the IRSP. More of this is needed since both have a similar ideology and goals.

by Portia Sat Jan 12, 2008 13:16

Eire and UK are soon to be just states numbered 1 and 2 of EU.....so we will all be under the EU flag.

There will be no Eire or Britain or Scotland.!!

The Queen has signed Britain away without the consent of the people.

Now, what about the Irish??

This is all propaganda.

Go on keep moaning about the Queen- German anyway -and all the while- you are being sucked into EU/Octopus.

My God, you would think we had learned about diversion tactics and common purpose by now.