tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715375047734985778.post6082937733318055797..comments2023-05-11T02:43:40.926-07:00Comments on Read Me Sometimes, Think of Me Often.: Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05685607101782412986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715375047734985778.post-81483614066926002252010-09-21T02:12:09.573-07:002010-09-21T02:12:09.573-07:00Most Irish people have very little knowledge of th...Most Irish people have very little knowledge of the complexities of the divisions in Northern Ireland or of the various factions on each side. Remember that as well as the different versions of the IRA and oher republican groups you had atleast as many on the loyalist side, for example UVF, UDA, UFF, Red Hand Commando (to name but a few). Thankfully most of them are now irrelevant and soon the Irish people can get on with their lives.<br />You, an American, are already more knowledgeable than most Irish people about Irish history!Michaelhttp://www.dublinovernight.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715375047734985778.post-49277343525453399512009-03-13T07:09:00.000-07:002009-03-13T07:09:00.000-07:00Charlene - so, it all began around 1166ish when th...Charlene - so, it all began around 1166ish when the English arrived in Ireland and Henry II, King of England, proclaimed Dublin under his control. From then on, the Irish had to fight English colonialism. Over that time, it was sort of "re-conquered," like in the sixteenth century by Henry VIII, and then there have been various civil wars as well (I'm still wrapping my head around the Catholics vs. Protestants issue, but you just have to pretend that religion itself doesn't have much to do with it). Finally, after a long battle, in 1921, the country was split up, and Southern Ireland was its own deal while Northern Ireland remained part of the UK. So that's why if you mistakenly call Ireland "the UK" to an Irish person, you will nearly get a smack upside the head.<BR/><BR/>But conflict still remained in Northern Ireland, for many, many reasons, which I'm still trying to understand. Many people want independence, and many people wish to stay part of the UK. <BR/><BR/>And no matter which way you slice it, Irish history is an extremely violent one.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05685607101782412986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715375047734985778.post-1908396565860232362009-03-12T13:26:00.000-07:002009-03-12T13:26:00.000-07:00Gee, thanks for clearing that up for a fellow igno...Gee, thanks for clearing that up for a fellow ignorant American. <BR/><BR/>Now I'M confused!! LOL!Charlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476307880348143430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715375047734985778.post-7724390660578338332009-03-12T07:33:00.000-07:002009-03-12T07:33:00.000-07:00Also there are some amazing phrases in that thread...Also there are some amazing phrases in that thread, like "unfortunate cabbage" to describe a woman they don't like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8715375047734985778.post-89004094652872648862009-03-12T07:30:00.000-07:002009-03-12T07:30:00.000-07:00You getting called out on a messageboard is pretty...You getting called out on a messageboard is pretty funny given your messageboard familiarity. <BR/><BR/>I think it's great that you're sharing the process of how an American goes about figuring all of this intense political stuff that every Irish person probably sort of knows intuitively out.<BR/><BR/>-ArielAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com