And there lies the crux of the problem. I’m pretty sure there are plenty of Norn Iron supporters who don’t want the Celtic Jerseys stirring up trouble either.

I would love to see a united Ireland football team. Fearing what the other side MIGHT do in the event of a unification is not a reason not to go ahead with it, neither is the concern about the flag/anthem/stadium compromises that would have to be made.

Different clientele or not, I didn’t cheer any less enthusiastically when we hammered England at Croke Park in 2007. The significance of the occasion wasn’t diluted just because we had to endure “Ireland’s Call” and wave around an IRFU flag as opposed to a tricolour, and I certainly didn’t feel any less Irish.

People will always pick holes and find problems, it’s human nature. But sometimes you just need to press ahead and the rest will follow.

Haven’t seen trouble at an English prem or national game in ten yrs or were you just being racist

You probably haven’t been to many England away games then, or hung around after premiership matches!
I was in Stuttgart in 2006 for Ireland vs Germany, a few months after England had been there in the world cup. A police man told me they had arrested about 2 Irish people out of over 10000. He also said, just a few months ago, there was a riot in the same spot by the English! Just dishing out facts here. Not being ‘discriminant’ which is the word you were looking for!

Fact Windsor Park can only hold 12,000 (Versus 52,000 in Aviva) kind of makes Windsor a no goer commercially In terms of Ulster Stadium, Casement or St Tiernachs with 32,000/ 36,000 be more suitable but would need GAA support.

Logistically cant see it being huge issue in terms of crest, jersey, anthem, stadium (alternating matches etc.) as just follow rugby team lead. Its more politically and in terms of both fans support and backing would fail.

Last time I checked the nordie unionists are Irish.

I love lamp. Unionists call themselves Scots Irish except on Paddys Day they love to be called Irish.

Im going to assume that is just your opinion because half of my family are unionists from Belfast and they call themselves Irish and they don’t mean Scott’s Irish.

I love lamp. What about the other 364 days of the year?

What shit are you smoking? They say they’re Irish every day of the year.

I love lamp – what about the Ulster Scots people, who’ve been recognised as an ethnic group under the Good Friday Agreement?

Maurice that’s boll**ks! As a Bohs fan married to a Derry girl, I regularly go to the Brandywell and have never seen any bother with Derry supporters at League of Ireland games. The stewarding situation works very well and it’s a credit to Derry City that they don’t require policing in the Brandywell.

The only time I saw trouble in the Brandywell when I was at a match was when Shamrock Rovers fans were fighting amongst themselves!

I presuming your source is tv3!
Why would fans stone away buses,when the majority of Derrys support are catholics,hence they play in the LOI?

Dont think creating team be that hard just pick best player in each position regardless of where from on island. Being 100% honest not too sure how many from Northern Ireland would get into Republic team.

I love lamp. UUP. UDP, UDP, UUC, UKUP, PUP, and these are YOUR parties. Nothing Irish about them. If your so Irish what about your IRISH national anthem, or your IRISH flag, or your IRISH language. Slan leat, agus pog mo thoin

Keith, Me thinks you have a gripe, but are not willing to share it ;)

Just before?

So your a real black and white type of guy eh? Tbh it doesnt bother or effect me the slightest. But I don’t really see who this benefits. We’re already off to the euro’s. Players who want to play a “united” team already have chosen so. Example being Gibson etc. so the only other people are northern Irish players who prefer to represent the north which again makes the united Irish team kind of a silly idea.

The best Northern Irish players are already playing for Ireland so what’s the difference?

I agree with Martin, every morning I wake up and I look in the mirror and say to myself ‘You are a positive…progressive…foward thinking person’, but I also cry myself to sleep at night, because, something is missing, and it’s not an all-Ireland soccer team

Different demographic, also they’ve always been doing it.

I was unaware of a social class qualification to play or support your chosen sport. I think that sort of biased thinking is what retains discrimination in a society.

It’s true though. The kind of kids that play rugby at schools level and then go onto club and country are usually from a certain background. There’s a different kind of social status connected to rugby than there is to soccer.
Maybe it’s not right to say soccer is “working class” but look at it from school boy level, nearly all schools will have a soccer team, rugby teams are associated with the bigger boarding schools mainly and the social culture of these schools are very different to the ones that play soccer.
Just look at the two Irish teams if you need proof. Listen to Robbie Keane or Richard Dunne talk, then listen to Brian O’Driscoll or Rob Kearney talk. All from Dublin but all from very different social backgrounds. As are a lot of the fans of these sports, or the ones that pay money to actually go watch them anyway.

Obviously that shouldn’t be used as an excuse for ROI not getting along with NI, but at the end of the day the Rugby situation is vastly different from the soccer one.

Kearney is from Louth. You’re right though, just because it works in rugby/cricket/golf doesn’t mean it will work in football

You’re right, he is from Louth, my bad. But he still went to Clongowes and then onto UCD, so my general point still stands. :)

That is what’s happening now.

Really? Half the squad was born on the mainland.

really, and the other half were born where?…the aran islands presumably.

Look it up, half the squad were born and raised on the British mainland. Most, if not all, of the squad plays in the English leagues.

How about a real Irish squad made up of real Irish players?

ohh that mainland.

“The mainland”? Blimey, it’s like the internet has travelled back in time to the 19th century…

Just done a little check and it turns out it’s exactly a third. Still, that’s hardly much better.

Given. Doyle. Long. O’dea. Keane. Duff. Andrews. Whelan. O’shea. Dunne. Hunt. Mc Shane. Kelly. Forde. Ward.
All borne in Ireland. That’s fifteen. Surely more than half of a 23 man squad. Didn’t even name the two northern Irishmen.

Two non-Irish born players in the starting eleven

We tried that Damocles,they were crap!Jack brought in many foreign players under the grand parent rule when first got into the euros.

I am guessing you won’t be supporting Ireland during the Euro finals starting this weekend?

You mean the England B team?

What about an ‘I don’t care’ option. I like soccer, but all this lionisation of pro’s? Just vicarious tribalism. I’m an evolved conscious being. Give me a game in the park over 22 guys in a stadium who don’t know or care who I am.

Patrick Watching N.Ireland is as boring as fuqqqq…….. Us ROI fans are respected around the world, let us keep it that way.

people that dont support a football team just have no understanding of the feeling it generates, i know this for a fact as i only took an interest in my mid 20′s, really didnt know what i was missing

How about an all European team, seems more apt for a people who have willingly gave away what was left of their country. The most unpatriotic apathetic nation of people inn the world. If anyone can tell me a people anywhere who are less proud and patriotic, please tell me?

Looks like a lot of ill-informed, non football fans and meddling do-gooders on here today – probably office girls taking a break from gossiping….
Besides Jonny Evans who from NI would make our team?
Who would run the new all-ireland association? Do you think anyone from the FAI or the IFA would relinquish their highly paid jobs for a new administration?
Would we have to ban our anthem?
Do you think the NI players would like this as it would surely be the end of their International careers?
What would happen the Rangers players hoping to get a game for Ireland? I bet they’d love Irish Internationals at Ibrox!
We’ve had ROI V NI games at Windsor and the Old Lansdowne which were ticking time bombs and one or two were started by management – ie Billy Bingham!
I’ve been in the Scotland end at Lansdowne mingling with fans and there is an unspoken rule that no one mentions The Old Firm for fear of starting something – would we have this? Ireland fans get pissed and sing Fields Of Athenry – it’s second nature for us – how would this go down? Would we ever relax with “reformed” loyalists with Linfield slogans on their tri-colour?….. (hint of sarcasm before you start)

Seriously though – a lot of questions to be answered and a big dose of realism to be swallowed. As much as it would be good for the country and possibly the next step to a completely unified country I can’t ever see it happen and I would not like to see a day where I can’t where my tricolour with pride while singing Amhrán na bhFiann either in Lansdowne or any other world wide stadium in which the Irish fans are adored!

And hurling has no rules and is violent as F… Stick with it

Thumb up Paula. I was walking around Dunnes the other day, watching people buying their tricolours for Euro’12 and I couldn’t help but wonder how many of them had voted in fear or greed last week. But in this time of low national moral I am heartened to see that the majority who voted favour an all Ireland team. All is not lost. Maybe when we elect a government with a bit of courage we can have another referendum.

I know I’ve gone off topic but I made my contribution to why I would love an all Ireland team on thread last evening. Just wanted to show a bit of solidarity to you Paula seeing as you’re getting such a hard time on the thumb front. I’ll stand beside you. :(

*know nothing.

Its about 5mm under the “Yes” and “No” options

Have you ever been to specsavers?

You see that “X” on the top right hand side of the page? Vote away to your hearts content.

@Paddy Murphy.

I’ve been to Specsavers.

Have you been to primary school to learn to read?
The 3rd option in the poll is ‘I don’t KNOW’
My question was asking about another possible option. Can you spot the difference?

Well well well, Who fell out of the pedantic side of the bed this morning.

I`d like to know your definition of “mainland” in relation to Ireland.

Going by the figures you supply, only six out of twenty three players are not Irish, so just under a quarter are not Irish born.

Northern Ireland isn’t British.

They`re Irish not British!

Bryan, do you even know the words to Amhrán na bhFiann? I doubt it, and yet you have the gall to say people up North aren’t Irish? – Moron.

You keep telling yourself that Brian. It’s that kind of bulls**t that stops players like James McClean ever thinking of playing for yiz. Your loss is our gain!! We’ll keep qualifying for the odd tournament here and there and you’ll keep failing. Definitely more in your interest to have an all Ireland team than ours. Shame you can’t see it!!!

There is. And it requires a lot effort than typing it out.

Theres a DONT KNOW option, I do know, I dont care.

Funny you should say that because I couldn’t care less if you care or not.

Seeing as you have your pedantic trousers on maybe you could refrain from commenting on sections that you don’t care about. It saves a lot of effort for the people who like reading constructive or intelligent comments.

I believe the Daily Mail comment section would be more to your taste.

Sorry i didnt realise you own the comments section. Its funny though, i offered as always my own opinion, you on the other hand are a typical ireland bandwagon jumper, you are like a LOT of other people who NEVER comment on a sports on story on here & then low and behold a day before the european championships start you’ve think you have some right to start getting smart with me.
Ah well, i suppose you need something until the ruggers rolls around again. Dont forget your leprauchan outfit.

Brian,

It’s part of the UK, just not part of Britain.