This is a very interesting read,and I am sure it will open up some debate. http://www.independent.ie/opinion/a...-for-squeezing-us-beside-england-2647435.html
Very tongue in cheek article. He writes... "Being near to England is such an astonishing stroke of luck, such a magnificent accident, it should outweigh almost any misfortune that we are currently enduring, or have ever endured, or will ever endure." This us an extremely bold and controversial statement, and then he proceeds to talk about sports, papers, music etc... As for Osbourne 'helping' us.. England has often come to our aide when its to their benefit too. Im really not sure what the true point of the piece was... to stir debate?.. light humour?.... but I certainly wouldnt take it seriously.
The way I see it is .... England has been and will continue to be, one of our largest, if not our largest, trading partner for many years to come .... they have a benifical interest in Ireland having a successful economy, as it contributes to theirs, also. Much the same could be said, if roles were reversed... for Ireland, needles to say. England further has a strong vested interest in our Banking system - HSBC, Barclays, RBS (through Ulster Bank) and others, all have a presence here and funds invested / lent into this country. Hence, our banking & property problems are also theirs ! England, like Ireland, had to support it's Banks and bail some of them out financially - Banks such as Bradford & Bingley, HBOS, Abbey National are just some of the names to mention, with RBS currently excess 80% British Government owned & Lloyds excess 40% in British State ownership. In effect, they've felt our pain and continue to do so. England gets significant tourism from Ireland each year (just consider all the money spent by us going to matches, for a very small and simple part of this), has many Irish or Irish related people in it's residential population who are voters & tax payers, speaks the same language etc etc. Ireland is similar - particularly with regards to Tourism and the income it generates for us. England provided loan funding as part of the recent financial rescue deal for Ireland, not just because it's a neighbouring country, but because it was acting for it's own good alongside ours. From what I can recall, it's also provided at a rate lower than 5.8% (which apperantely represents the average rate we're paying, not the rate on all funds from the various sources).... As I see it, the bottom line is we could have worse "neighbours" and whether they are just doing whats good for them, or doing things to try and help mend fences after what occured in our history ... who knows, but on the basis that we are going into the future and not stuck in the past (thankfully, because there are very dark and unplesant times if we remember when we were under British rule ), I for one appreciate the help we're getting from them.
We have played our own part in helping our neighbors . A trip down to the Memorial Park and see the number of Irish men ,women and children who gave their lives in the 2 World wars while wearing British uniforms will show that . Its surely been a relationship thats been tested to the max and now we are at peace it seems . Ive often wondered how things would have been had it not been for the early plantations or had James kicked the siht out of Billy . The Brits are a good bunch of folk - some say salt of the earth . As an Irishman its always been difficult to look towards our neighbor without grinding the teeth . My old man worked there and I got 2 siblings born there so what do I do ??? Ah,,,,us and the Brits - bit like an average Irish marriage imo , its ""him"" to her and ""her"" to him when not in each others company but both know they like one another at the end of the day .
If you were to take that article seriously, you could give pages and pages of rebuttal examples of Britains role in murder.. and terror against Ireland. From cromwells slaughter...to the massacre at croke park..to blooday sunday..to its role in the dublin and monaghan bombings...and also its murky war in the north,where it armed and trained various loyalist groups to murder innocent catholics.To which the british dont want a truth commision set up,like they did in south africa...as theres just too much dirty washing to be hung out. Humourous article,with a lot of history conveniently airbrushed out