Notes on Northern Ireland politics and culture???

Celtic's relevance?

Football management - a bit like politics. A year ago Martin could do no wrong. Now there are mutterings that he's in danger.

Ziznivy,
Martin O'Neill is from Northern Ireland, the captain of Celtic is from Northern Ireland, it's one of the top three most supported football clubs in Northern Ireland.

That's relevance enough unless you are trying to say sport has no relevance, cultural or otherwise.

There's more than enough sport going on IN Northern Ireland without bringing Scottish clubs into the frame. It doesn't matter how many people here support them, Rangers or Man Utf for that matter, it's foreign sport. You may as well have a thread about Willelhm II because James Quinn plays for them. I've had it up to the back teeth seeing Scottish football (which is completely dead but for the sectarianism it generates) peddled as if it's specifically relevant to Northern Ireland.

It's not a question of "bringing them into the frame" , they are already here and are well-established.

I don't think it's possible to talk about NI culture as if this were solely restricted to events taking place in Northern Ireland.

We're a lot more interconnected than that these days. If anything, some of the 'foreign' influences and manifestations of NI culture can provide the most interesting talking points.

Says something about the 'Mood' when more people are interested in making comments about the football than are interested in talking about the 'Deal'.

Just about right I think.

Ziznivy, we could do with a NI sports correspondent. Aaron used to keep watch on that, but he's retired from the post. Fancy a try out?

Drop me an email if you're interested?

RE what's in and out of Slugger, I've never believed we should be prescriptive - there are too many restrictions on what people can and can't talk about already in NI. Most of the bloggers and ex bloggers here will confirm I take a vigourously 'hands off' approach to their outputs even.

I believe in widening the circle as and when the opportunity arises - which includes increasing the coverage of NI sport.

Gael P

Yes, it beats getting stuck in a morass of conjecture and speculation.

The whole point of 'the deal' and devolution is ostensibly to allow people in Northern Ireland to have a greater say in how they are governed. I fear the net effect from the current round of histrionics may be the alienation of many from politics altogether. I mean, is this really politics, or the 21st century equivalent of Saturday morning wrestling?

We no longer have any idea of where choreography stops and real politics begins. It's easier to comment on games that have a final whistle and only last 90 minutes.

SJ- and in both cases we can agree on blaming the referees ;)

Mike. I was perhaps a little harsh, principally because I do have quite an antipathy to the Old Firm and Northern Irish news sources covering the two teams is a bit of a hobby horse. As for submitting some stories on Irish sport, I wouldn't mind having a go on the football side of things, but perhaps someone else would be better dealing with GAA, rugby and whatever else as I'm not particularly knowledgable in these areas.

IT really is a pity the Island of Ireland does not have any major soccer powerhouses who could compete with the best in Europe. :(

"IT really is a pity the Island of Ireland does not have any major soccer powerhouses who could compete with the best in Europe. :("

What about Shels? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/3532096.stm

Michael
They done outstanding this year,but until one reaches the Champions League group stages,in my opinion they cant claim to be a powerhouse.

Does this mean i can not talk about Argentina futbol? When your economy fails, nothing like a goooooooooooooooool from Batistuta.

Glasgow Celtic would not be so popular here were it not for the demise of the only ever powerhouse of irish football, Belfast Celtic.

I think I saw Celtic lose to Porto once.

I think I saw Celtic lose to Porto once.

Please dont remind me i was in seville. :(

I think I read about that. The press in Sevilla raved about the well behaved Celtic fans. I think they were expecting trouble.

I think Celtic played a good match if I remember correctly, but as you know that year Argentina won the South American cup. Not to brag.

hahaha yeh there wasnt one celtic supporter arrested despite 105,000 of them traveling over there, a sizeable amount without tickets,they came from all over the world.the South American Cup?is that the Copa America or another competition?

They had to behave CavanMan... they were after all in an "orange" area ;)

http://www.futbolargentino.com.ar/seleccion/juveniles/sub20/uruguay2003/index.html

Copa America is all of the Americas.

Suramerica is just that a south American tourney, we beat the Colombians that year. Well we beat everybody. :)

Sevilla an orange area?

105,000? That is a lot of green!! Well you will always be welcomed here if u ever play us.

yup, just about the only reason to like Mourinho that Seville match :0)

Sevilla an orange area?

Seville Oranges

Traditionally Seville Oranges are used for marmalade as they are "bitter" LOL

Fraggle

Glasgow Celtic would not be so popular here were it not for the demise of the only ever powerhouse of irish football, Belfast Celtic.

Perhaps you could explain why you think Belfast Celtic was the "only ever" powerhouse of Irish football.

HELLO MY NAME IS DELE FROM NIGERIA PLS SIR AM WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AM INTERESTED IN POLAYING FOOTBALL WITH YOU OVER THERE AM 17 YRS AM A STRIKER I AM FROM FARICA IF YOU CAN HELP ME PLS SECURE A CLUB SIR I WILL BE VERY HAPPY I DONT WANT TO KILL MY TALENT I HAVE THE TALENT AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE IT SO PLS SIR IF YOU GIVE ME THE CHANCE TO PROVE MY SELF TO YOU I WILL, NEVER DISAPOINT YOU...
BYE

What the...?