Yes the were for a short period of time, but what is that familiar with? Whats the comparison? … Oh God please don’t let it be a comparison to the cowards in FG and Labour.

The rebels of 1916 weren’t in power, they wanted a change, while many were happy with the status quo and didn’t want to rock any boats.

Sorry, got out of the wrong side of the bed this this morning..

So if you love your country it is ok to kill. How many people have been murdered by different versions of the IRA in the name of love of one’s country?

Thought you’d have been invited to Willie Frazer’s barbeque Patrick?

and money – lots of Money .

@patrick Lyons – They killed so that we the Irish could be free and have our own independence.
They killed but were then slaughtered and killed by the occupiers and ‘burglars’ that robbed the Irish of their rights, freedom & homeland.

You’re Right our benefactours fought for a better country.Not for so called Irish Men bowing to that crown,those thieving Bastards who live in the life of freeloading ponces,i can’t mention names such as.Sir BOZZO or Sir WIGGY.because the Journal will Censor Me?

Many Irish people made mistakes, made very bad decisions and now the Irish people are paying. Still massively preferable to being part of the UK and bowing down to the Queen. If you think we would be better off just look at Scotland and the north sea gas. Independent Scotland would be as rich and successful as Norway.

Can the public attend these Conferences?

@Stephen: We’re an independent Ireland, we have Gas, why aren’t we as rich and successful as Norway?

Ferdia, I am no geologist but as far as I know the Irish gas is in fairly deep water, certainly compared to the north sea which is very shallow. Plus, and again I am open to contradiction, our gas was found only fairly recently. Two major and very important differences from the Scottish and Norwegian situations.

re irish gas – it looks like we may be like thos ” rich ” in resources African countries that get ” help ” from outside .
The €420,000,000,000+ Ireland is giving away

Vast quantities of gas and oil have been discovered under Irish waters in the Atlantic Ocean over the past 15 years. The Government’s figures put the value of these reserves at €420 billion (€420,000,000,000), but this is a very conservative estimate. The real figure is likely to be much higher, especially as the global price of oil and gas rises (see explanation below*).

So what will the Government be spending these new-found riches on? The answer is: Nothing. This wealth will be leaving Ireland, thanks to a deal made between the corrupt Haughey government and multinational oil companies. Minister Ray Burke (later jailed for corruption) changed the law in 1987, reducing the State’s share in our offshore oil and gas from 50% to zero and abolishing royalties. In 1992, Minister Bertie Ahern reduced the tax rate for the profits made from the sale of these resources from 50% to 25%.

According to respected economist Colm Rapple, the amount of tax paid will be very low and will not be paid until many years into the operation of a gas or oil field, because the deal allows the companies to write off 100% of costs (even the anticipated cost of shutting down the operation!) before they declare the profits to be taxed (see http://www.colmrapple.com). In major oil/gas producing countries, the state takes an average (median) of 68% of the value of gas and oil.

While people in Ireland are suffering in a recession, being told to tighten their belts, to grin and bear the painful cuts to health, education and their dole, the pension levy, the giant oil companies of the world are preparing to remove Ireland’s valuable natural resources and divvy up the billions of euro of profits between their shareholders.

So the next time you hear a politician defending the Corrib Gas fiasco by mentioning the “national interest”, remember that Corrib actually represents a net loss to the Irish exchequer of tens of billions of euro.

http://www.shelltosea.com/content/gas-oil-robbery

Shut up fool

JakkiB, I totally agree. Lots of keyboard historians on here.

You are correct in my humble opinion.

Agree EU Auditor… No more killing for a cause. Foster a culture of personal responsibility…. However, I would argue that the young men and women of the 1916 uprising are nothing like the women and women of today.

I’d argue that the men and women of 1916 uprising had a vision for this country, a dream and hope. Generally, I don’t think any of the so mention exists. I see no national pride. I do not see a united front against greed. I do not see strong leadership and guidance from the executive leaders of our government to instill pride. What I do see is a fractured people still suffering from the past and unable to look forward to the future.

Remember… Politicians sum up the symbol of patriotism as Charles Haughey. At his funeral he was hailed as the greatest patriot of this country.

Would you say the same qbout Mandela and south Africa. The genicide that was the famine was still in living memory for many at this time. The landlord and tennat system was destroying Irish country life. If you opress a people they will rebel. Its been seen all across the globe.

There are many differences between Ireland and South Africa. They have not stopped their fight against oppression and inequality. In our country we have. The old oppressors (English) have been replaced by a new set of oppressors (Irish government).

If it weren’t for being part of the EU… Many of the advancements in Ireland wouldn’t have happened.

South Africa is still working on their issue. And Ireland is hardly working. This is not to say that people don’t want to change.

No way, I have read deputations from many participants over the last few days and they all describe how an RIC man was accidentally shot by one of them, they all described how devastated they were at the needless loss if life. They also made sure they got confession before the event. They didn’t know what ruthless was, they only wanted freedom, to which I am grateful for.

You have to be joking? Americans and people all around the world who fought for their country’s freedom/independence from the British were called “terrorists” as well. Your point? The majority of the Irish people backed the freedom fighters (yes freedom fighters) of 1916. The London government was acting like a typical dictator rejecting all the votes showing most Irish wanted to separate. The idea that a famine could happen in one of the richest countries on the face of the earth and result in millions of Irish dying is enough to point out the absurdity of Ireland being in any Union with Britain. Completely outrageous.