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Belfast to host parade for Ulster troops
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Plans to hold a homecoming celebration for Ulster troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan took a step closer to becoming a reality last night.
Councillors in Belfast came face to face during a crunch meeting to decide whether the returning servicemen and women should be honoured with a civic reception in the city to tie in with a parade being organised by the Army.
The issue has divided council members, with unionists in favour and nationalists opposed to the proposals.
Members of Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee had narrowly voted in favour of holding a civic reception for the troops at a meeting held last month.
But the proposal needed to be ratified at a full meeting of the council held last night.
Councillors voted on a Sinn Fein amendment to the original minute asking that the council oppose holding a reception for military personnel. However, this failed to gain the necessary support and was overturned by a vote of 26 votes to 20.
Sinn Fein councillor Paul Maskey said he was disappointed at the outcome. “Quite a lot of people within Belfast will be disappointed by this vote as well,” he said.
“Many people in Belfast are opposed to these wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is of great disappointment that we are now supporting it. This debate itself has created division within the city and set it back maybe a number of years.”
However, the DUP’s Robin Newton said he was pleased that the vote had gone in favour of holding a reception. “I think this is a debt that we owe not only to the soldiers who have served, but to their families who also serve as they wait for their loved ones to return,” he said.
The unionist vote was helped by support from Alliance, who voted for the reception.
Naomi Long said her party was opposed to the ‘war on terror’ but was sympathetic to the troops sent to fight it. “We should be able to support local people who have served,” she said.
The civic reception will be held after a parade to St Anne's Cathedral on Sunday November 2.
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Comments
37 Comments
I for one can't stand this outcry that comes with any type of celebration of national identity and solidarity in Northern Ireland, which in any other part of the world would be welcomed.
Sure, there are people who believe that they are not British, but I am. Therefore I want my army to be able to walk their own streets without fear of derisory reaction by bitter republicans who complain of 'British subjugation and 'Crown interference in Ireland' and the like. Do you not realise the era of imperialism is over?The UK includes NI citizens, and the ones in question who serve their country, so portraying this as some sort of 17th century crusade to annoy the natives is ridiculous! Wise up!
Posted by Bangorian | 05.09.08, 21:39 GMT
The point i am making barry is that it is catholics also fighting in the british army returning home to this parade and it is nearly almost all catholics who are the ones opposing this parade! Barry you say about illegal war and i doubt you care that much for all thiose civilans in war at the present moment
Posted by there | 04.09.08, 15:15 GMT
To the post from 'there'. Although you are posting about the British Army. I fail to see what your post has to do with the topic at hand. It does not matter where the recruits come from, it does not change the fact that it was an illegal war and illegal occupation of soverign nations. Why do people always have to bring it back to a British/Irish, Catholic/Protestant debate? It has absolutely nothing to do with this. If it was an invading army from the Faroe Islands it would still be illegal!
Posted by Barry | 04.09.08, 09:11 GMT
The British Army is becoming more Irish by the day, it was revealed today.
More and more recruits from the Republic of Ireland are flocking across the border to sign on to fight for Queen and Country.
Army Recruitment in Northern Ireland revealed that 16% of all those enlisting since April were from south of the border - up from the 10.5% recorded in the previous year.
Six young men who signed up in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh today came from as far afield as Cork, Limerick and Dublin.
Four are joining the Royal Irish Regiment one is joining the Royal Engineers and another the Parachute Regiment.
There has been a centuries old tradition of Irishmen joining the British Army - one which has been rekindled following the ending of conflict in Northern Ireland.
Todays article clearly showas that it is catholics returning home to ulster to
Posted by there | 03.09.08, 18:24 GMT
Pete. Eh? The north of Ireland, it means just that. The north of Ireland doesnt serve to differentiate from Ireland. Just means the north part of the Island. So if someone says they are from the south of Ireland or the west of Ireland does that mean they are saying they aren't part of Ireland? I cant see your logic there.
Posted by Barry | 03.09.08, 17:00 GMT
There's no reason not to celebrate the fact that local lads have returned safely. It has nothing to do with agreeing with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - it was the politicians who started those wars, not the soldiers.
About an unrelated topic that has been raised below - doesn't calling Northern Ireland 'North of Ireland' serve to differentiate it from Ireland? As in "I live in Ulster, which is located west of England and north of Ireland."
Posted by Pete | 03.09.08, 12:52 GMT
Here we go with the tired old 'bigot' excuse. This time from Steve. Please change the record. Yes Steve I do oppose the British presence in Afghanastan and Iraq, just like I oppose the Irish, the U.S and whoever else makes up the 'Coallition of the Willing' I have opposed it from day one. I have been on many anti war marches, both her and in England, alongside other English/British people! Imagine that.
Just because I happen to oppose British rule in Ireland does not make me a bigot. In general I oppose Imperial rule in any country, I make no opologies for believing that a country should be ruled by its people and not an outside power. But I also take on board other people's beliefs and dont dismiss them straight off with the tired old 'bigot' shouts like some.
I know that these proposed receptions have no bearing nor connection with any conflict here. I oppose it for reasons outwith the Irish conflict. Steve and others would to well to try to understand this. Thanks.
Posted by Barry | 03.09.08, 09:45 GMT
Joe Murray, if you think the Alliance Party is 'there to hammer nationalists and Catholics' then you're even more paranoid than the average resident of Northern Ireland.
Posted by Eamon | 03.09.08, 05:58 GMT
I do not care what religon the soldiers are nor do I care what army they kill for, they have no right whatsoever to be in either country and have left both countries worse off now than they were before they went in which is some achievment. They should do the heroic thing and refuse to go in the first place. And that would earn them a civic reception that I would go to.
Posted by ciaran | 02.09.08, 22:38 GMT
Mentality hi... You are right Northern Ireland isn't part of Britain, but as you say it is part of the UK. You may choose to be an Irish Citizen, but born in NI, as part of the UK, you are a British Subject, whether you recognise that or not. Northern Irish people have the Queen as Head of State, not a president.
And Cultured Ireland, I as a protestant recognise the Irish heritage and language, it doesn't really mean a lot to me, but I recognise it means a lot to some, and I certainly don't feel intimidated by it, nor offended by it.
What does offend me, is how others go out of their way to be offended... Do we have famine, no, drought, no, Tsumani, no. But heaven forbid members of the British Army parade in a city in the UK, which most protestants and I'd say a good percentage of catholics really wont be that offended by..
Posted by Stuart | 02.09.08, 22:04 GMT
Tony Fearon "As a Catholic bla bla..."
Fine, what has Catholicism got to do with this per sae ...on the other hand, you may want to express that you are little Englander or a West Brit (clearly with zero cultural appreciation or sensibility towards your Irish neighbours many of whom may be your co-religionists)
Just to spell it out, a large percentage of the population of the territory of the north of Ireland who call themselves Irish see this same army as the violent end of English crown attempts to subdue and oppress and convert the native Irish, and as such could very well do without having their noses rubbed in this typically British military jingoism...
Posted by Dan | 02.09.08, 21:35 GMT
dmac you say
'expect cross-community support for a parade to honour British soldiers coming back to Ireland'
They are not only British soilders comming back however you are incorrect saying they are comming back to Ireland they are returning to NORTHERN IRELAND not ireland as you sate.
Posted by matt | 02.09.08, 20:13 GMT
'do they respect our irish cultural heritage or language' YOU ASK THIS QUESTION YOU ARE NOT LEAVING IN IRELAND YOU LIVE IN THE 6 COUNTIESE OF NOTHERN IRELAND WHICH ALONG WITH ENGLAND SCOTLAND AND WALES MAKES UP THE UK WHICH HAS THE RED WHITE AND BLUE. IM SURE U LOVE THE FACTS
Posted by To cultured irish | 02.09.08, 20:08 GMT
To dmac are you that navie and narrow minded? There is soilders from royal irish returning home to this parade which are of the catholic faith and im sure they will be pleased with the receptition they get. You go own to mentition the crown dont forgot the postcode of where you live and that is under the crown of the UK
Posted by Andrew | 02.09.08, 20:02 GMT
Fed up with these unionists telling us what to do,
if part of west belfast was not gerrymandered into lisburn
and all those thousands of voters unrepresented then this belfast parade would not have won through.
Then again its all about triumphalism not respect, i respect soldiers fighting however do they respect our irish cultural heritage or language ? ANCIENT KINGDOM OF ULSTER says no
Posted by cultured irish | 02.09.08, 19:51 GMT
I as a Cathollic welcome this idea and think we should remember the job our troops our doing abroad although i do not agree with the present war this service men and women have been sent by our country and our doing a brilliant job they deserve this welcome home parade we should also remember other who have died in past conflict fighting for our country.
Posted by Tony Fearon | 02.09.08, 18:25 GMT
Belfast is not in britain! i am not british! It is called the united kingdom of 'great' britain AND n.ireland!
Posted by mentality hi!! hcl | 02.09.08, 18:01 GMT
I should add that I totally oppose the war in Iraq. While Hussein was a wicked dictator, his country had not directly attacked the UK. His removal only served its purpose of drawing attention away from America's failings on 11 September, 2001. It also destabalised the entire region.
Having said that, I believe the troops and their families should be allowed to celebrate their safe return to this country. As another poster to this thread said, this parade has absolutely nothing to do with the Troubles (which ended over ten years ago).
Move on people, we are supposed to be living in harmony, respecting each other's traditions!
Posted by Centaur | 02.09.08, 17:59 GMT
Everything about this parade is divisive, contentious and reflects little credit on the politicians and newspapers that have pushed it. How could anybody expect cross-community support for a parade to honour British soldiers coming back to Ireland from deeply unpopular wars? It is just another opportunity to poke people to see how they will react, a chance for unionist baiting and name-calling. There was a church event planned for these British soldiers that would not have encroached on anybody's sensitivities. That should have been enough. To even suggest that these soldiers of the Crown should be honoured because they are from the south and Catholics shows where the bigotry and sectarianism actually resides – in those who reduce everything to religion and postal code. Nationalists and Republicans (because of politics not their religion) cannot support a civic parade for serving soldiers of the Crown (wherever they come from and whatever faith they profess).
Posted by dmac | 02.09.08, 17:56 GMT
i think it is a good idea. i don't agree with the war in iraq or afghanistan but these people put their lives on the line. that should be reason enough to support the celebration. anyone who puts their life on the line for their country deserves to commended weather british, irish or american.
Posted by anthony | 02.09.08, 17:26 GMT
37 Comments