What do English People Know About Ireland? 1980

[@patrickmcardle1920]

You could have asked people from London the same questions about Liverpool or Newcastle and they’d have given equally uninformed or tabloid influenced answers.

[@patrickfortune3057]

True then and true today

[@sarahbrennan1342]

Very true

[@johnnypickles5256]

Very true

[@adeleellie6]

Or Scotland

[@MrFrostedtips]

Yep, in fact you could just ask people questions about *anything* and they'd give equally uninformed or tabloid influenced answers.

[@charliedawson6318]

"I think it's more picturesque because it's not part of the UK.' Hard to argue with reasoning like that.

[@OSTARAEB4]

WOW! The Irish ASK for a lot says the elderly lady? The British TOOK a lot!

[@TheDaverobinson]

Like?

[@peppiping]

@@TheDaverobinson The Bardic Colleges, The Gaelic Irish noble class, the Gallowglass class, Catholic Church institutes, taxes, exports for a low price, sectarianism and discrimination with such things as the penal laws, which aimed to keep the Catholic Irish down and the Protestant Irish Assembly up, huge rent prices, etc

[@TheDaverobinson]

Green Elf a) half of that shit doesn’t involve them taking anything and b) the lady you’re talking about is talking in 1980. Your examples are (as usual) a load of history.

[@peppiping]

@@TheDaverobinson a) You're completely right, most of it isn't taking things, but complete destruction, though many works of art were undoubtedly looted from Irish Catholic cathedrals and abbeys during the times of Henry VIII and Elizabeths reign. These works of art would have had great cultural and heritage value today, now they don't exist. The ruling class are always the best patreons for the arts, and also enrich culture, but ours were either completely wiped out of forced to be English. Saying my examples are a load of history is a complete non-arguement and it comes from a weird and downright wrong assumption that history is irrelevant, when it's being repeated daily. Today in Ireland most of the country is English speaking. Why should we be speaking English as our first language, when we're Irish?

[@jasonc651]

Green Elf Jeez. How far back do you want to go with it all then? I mean, the English don’t ask why they don’t speak Old Brittonic any more like they did before the arrival of the Anglo Saxons and the Jutes. It’s history chap.....

[@oldnwise8123]

The British public were of course never told or taught Irish history...hence the answers...

[@oldnwise8123]

@@johndoe-ss9bz History is a unfortunately a national story or narrative so to be expected

[@fcb9950]

@@johndoe-ss9bz And telling by your subconscious reply Ireland is no longer part of the UK? Only PART of it isn't. Unfortunately the northern part of it still is...for now anyway. Don't misappropriate the name Ireland. It's not just 26 southern counties it encompasses all 32 of them. Different mindset required here I think?

[@brianm2881]

@@fcb9950 It's not really misappropriation to call the 26 counties Ireland, because that's literally what the country is called, with the preceding bit, 'Republic of' being an optional descriptor. This type of thing probably goes on quite a bit around the world where at least some of the citizens of one country feel their borders should encompass a greater area than they do and the country is incomplete or maybe illegitimate without that extra bit of it, but if all these countries were illegitimate, international law would go a bit haywire. Best thing to say is the current state known as Ireland may one day encompass the whole island. There are democratic mechanisms in place to see if that that does or does not happen.

[@ErnieKings27]

Most importantly wouldn’t care less about it either

[@iainstirling1475]

@alfred Better than being an 'educated fool'. Enjoy reading History and spread your net wide. As they say "history is written by the victor". Eg Indian Mutiny, American Revolution, American Civil War.

[@BlackCoffeeee]

I'm Irish and to be fair, stop a random Irish person on the highstreet in the 80s and ask them about their opinion on any country and you'll probably get the same type of stereotypes shown here.

[@HandleGF]

"High street" didn't exist in Ireland in the Eighties. That bs phrase only came in later.

[@BlackCoffeeee]

@@HandleGF And?....

[@SavingPrivateBob]

I really doubt it. We're the kindest people about and always show grace for the goodness in other nations. Personally, I'd share as much passion as I could. I'm a true Irishman

[@georgegeorgsonsonofgeorgea2940]

@@HandleGF The fuck? A highstreet is just the main street of a town or city. Most of every place in Ireland has one. O'Connell Street is the highstreet of Dublin, for example. They've been called that since the middle ages. Though obviously Irish cities had an alternate word for it in Irish.

[@HandleGF]

@@georgegeorgsonsonofgeorgea2940 FYI, mate, "high street" is a British term recently imported by retail developers. The most common name here for what you're on about is Main Street.

[@freebornjohn2687]

The thing is that if you had asked them about another part of England I'd be amazed if they knew much. Most people are not interested in politics, geography and history. I recently met a young woman from Russia she'd never heard of Potemkin and other major Russians, but she did know about the Kardasians.

[@jamesmason8436]

Yep. The average man on the street will know a little about a lot but will mostly be concerned with getting though the day - same as anywhere else. No idea why people project their interests and politics onto others.

[@andrewdevine6333]

I worked in a secondary school in England. Some of the students had never heard about World War 2 and knew nothing about English history.

[@jerryoshea3116]

That is funny!!

[@Minime163]

Irish people are more curious about world events than English people or at least that's how it seems to me sometimes we get the facts wrong but we have an oppinion about everything

[@Minime163]

@@andrewdevine6333 are you serious

[@markbrophy4846]

That guy Gay Byrne is really talented he should have his own TV show.

[@1dulchie113]

Lol

[@john6714]

Does look like a promising prospect alright

[@jerryoshea3116]

What is a Gay Byrne?,is that a type of Burn,that leaves u scarred for life,but happy? And the Moron at 1.00 appears so happy&,pleased with himself!!..."But a fool finds fun,in his own mirth"!

[@ChrisBmufc]

I went to Bolton once to see United play there... I was asked if we had cars and the likes of bookies there. Unreal the ignorance

[@darraghkennedy1570]

He died a year ago sadly

[@standenberg]

People are quite similar wherever you go. I’m originally from South Africa moved to the UK as a teenager, & most Brits & Irish were polite & friendly but rarely did they know anything much about my country or it’s obvious problems. I now live in Australia, and Aussies with Irish surnames rarely know much about the 32 counties of Ireland or its history. As my Belfast born Grandma said to me & my siblings when we were growing up “There’s more that unites us than separates us” 👍🏼

[@moc7323]

England has a boarder with ROI .. SA is a 12 hour flight away and Australia is a rocket ride away . Mainland GB is a 20 minute flight . Obviously the further you go the less we know ..... here in Ireland we knew about apartheid .. Dunne Stores staff went on strike over it in the 80s . They refused to handle any SA goods .

[@lukemccann]

Amen to that

[@charliezz6746]

An Australian person with Irish roots wouldn't really think of themselves as Irish they are more likely to know as much about Irish history as the next aussie they are Australian just like an English aussie is.

[@irishcountrygirl78]

Your grandmother is a wise lady.

[@moc7323]

@sax Northern Ireland hasn’t really moved on from the past .. Republic of Ireland has well moved on from the past ... Don’t get me wrong , we will always remember the Irish famine .. 1 million starved to death 2 million has to get out of Ireland before they starved also .. If we done that to you guys I hope you would not forget that too ..

[@hapennyproductions3800]

"The Irish ask for alot", oh the irony 😒smh

[@kennethkilleen8758]

The old bag is well dead now.. M

[@johnfalconer5778]

@@kennethkilleen8758 6 counties must be a lot, then again she might mean the cost of maintaining Britrule in NI?

[@alanmacer5078]

As an Irishman ,this is painful to watch

[@mythbusterboyzz]

@@alanmacer5078 as an Irishman it’s painful to watch shinners try bend history to their narrative and indoctrinate the next generation of youth.

[@TomthatiscalledTom]

Spot the Daily Mail reader

[@katoness]

This is what the British mainstream media does to the masses, the story hasn't changed.

[@irishcountrygirl78]

Yes, stereo type, drunken people, green country, rains all the time and the North is full of corrigated iron 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@Warmsummersday]

I lived in England and as an Irish Person, the English couldn't have been nicer.

[@derekobeirnes482]

I did also for years, but alot the time they either don't no, misinformed, or uneducated on Irish history.

[@joebyrne3159]

@@derekobeirnes482, know!

[@andrewdevine6333]

@@derekobeirnes482 So? Were you well versed in every aspect of English/British history?

[@johnathanryan2117]

Exactly that . Me too. " The English" are stereotyped here in much the same way us Irish ate always complaining about. Head into Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham, and ask the working class salt of the earth English what they think, and youll find no freindlier folk. We talk about ' education' but surely we are as ignorant of their ways as the set up of this video shows. Bill Naughton, the Irish born playwright, brought up in Lancashire, extolls the differences and similarities in his biographies. One of the most telling statements is how the Irish of the 20s once went into a pub in Bolton and made a song and dance about independence and history etc. This was met by a wall of silence until a Lancastrian at the end of the bar said " Go then. Nowt stopping you. You wont be missed. If its that important, remember that none of us in here are interested. Good bloody riddance, i say. If youre staying here though, shut up with your big bloody talk, and have a pint." Its easy to be nationalistic, but we as Irish have to remember that the vast bulk of English people dont care simply because they have their own problems and worries. Ive lived in Lancashire for more years than i care to state and have never met better folk.

[@joebyrne3159]

@@andrewdevine6333, why would an Irish person want to well versed in English /British history?

[@stelladuigan3372]

As an English woman, to me Ireland means a beautiful country of brave people who fought bravely against tyranny and still are. I send love and support to Ireland, a rich culture that has given so much to the world

[@paulmaher2392]

Thank you well said.

[@barbaracrowley6631]

Thanks

[@brendanoconnor9196]

She is grown up, unlike you.@@simonlaw9234

[@theplan-m6c]

​@simonlaw9234 nah she is awesome.

[@J.cd33]

@@simonlaw9234shut it simon

[@clancywiggam]

Fast forward to 2021, a British man asked me, an Irish man, if I had a British passport, to which I replied no. He then asked what passport the Irish used. That was three days ago. Plus ça change...

[@PanglossDr]

Doesn't surprise me at all.

[@HandleGF]

The Irish passport entitles the bearer to a lifetime exemption from eating Brexit jellied eels.

[@spacecase4984]

😂 That’s crazy.

[@pawel8365]

@@HandleGF thank God

[@adamflynn7322]

Smh

[@caseycahill637]

Being an Irishman, I've found most English to be quite nice, fun, and genuinely kind - these days. When so much violence/terrorism was being carried out (not just in N. Ireland; but in England as well), things were understandably not very friendly at all. Time mends some wounds. ✌I wish the English a great future with peace and happiness (don't have any more Boris Johnsons, etc.!).

[@Irish-Gael-sg4lv]

We had (on and off) 800 years in English/British terrorism and genocide in Ireland against the Irish people, yet you blindly buy into the narrative that the Engkish rightly disliked the Irish for a few decades of violent rebellion. What a clown

[@kevinridoutt2127]

I agree completely. I am Irish and have lived in Yorkshire for last 4 years . I have no problem with the English, all have been nice. History is History, it's cruel and sad . I have moved on , pity others wouldn't do the same.

[@007therealjamesbond]

*Gay was in a league of his own as an interviewer*

[@TomthatiscalledTom]

Michael Parkinson regards him as the best interviewer he's ever known and said so in his autobiography.

[@jayarnottcoaching]

Good to see Kenneth Williams took to interviewing on the streets!

[@TheJustinhcase]

My mum was a civil servant in Dublin when I was young. I can remember at aged eight being left outside the Irish Broadcasting studios to play with my little sister while my mum was inside doing something official. When who do we see striding up to the main entrance but no less than Gay Byrne himself. We both excitedly ran up to him knowing him off the TV and him always being so nice and friendly, " Mr Byrne's , Mr Byrne's can we have your Autograph please" to which he replied "A Feck off you little street urchins" I do hope it was feck but being the first time someone had expressed such sentiment to me, I can not be sure. It was not the man I knew from the telly, that is for sure.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Never meet your hero’s

[@brianm2881]

I have a hard time believing that story because of 'street urchin', as if Gay Byrne is Fagan from Oliver Twist.

[@TheJustinhcase]

@@brianm2881 well if you knew how many beggar kids were on the streets back in the 70s you might understand. My sister and I were eventually on Wan Wandrely Wagon.all a very long time ago. TV is not so nice in reality is a sad thing to have to learn.

[@gerhar11]

An arrogant overrated pos,, that's what he was

[@alanbaird6]

not the first account of him being short and rude to people.

[@lydialily846]

Wow ! “ I believe it rains a lot in Ireland “ as opposed to “ sunny England “ hilarious 😂 ...

[@mango5ful]

I laughed at this too lol

[@lydialily846]

@@mango5ful I’m glad someone else thought it was funny & ridiculous 😂

[@mango5ful]

@@lydialily846 stop of all the things she could've said my lord 🤣

[@lydialily846]

@@mango5ful I know ... So funny 😂

[@lydialily846]

@The505Guys 👍

[@TheDrumlinBoy]

The ignorance is chilling, I wonder if the situation has improved.

[@sweden7675]

Some may say the opposite, but with the internet people can learn things with the click of a mouse, that took years of university and school to learn back then.

[@mikenewson6096]

Most English people are ignorant about our relationship with the Irish. I am English and married to an Irish woman for 52 years. I have travelled through Ireland extensively over the years and have had many dealings with these delightful people. My father in law was the best man I have ever met, he was a great source of information, when he was a child he witnessed some of the horrors inflicted by British troops and the scum called the Black and Tans. This made me ashamed of my country. I decided to do some research mainly around the western counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare and Tipperary. The facts made awful reading. My concerns were the period leading up to and just after the Easter Rising of 1916. I also learned many things about the previous potato famine. Horror stories. I came to the conclusion that by and large the English and Irish get on pretty well. this tying in with my own experiences over the years. Over 50 years only once did a young lad rare up to me it was at a wedding and he was plastered, we parted the best of friends. Ireland is a beautiful place with happy friendly people. Trouble has been caused by politicians and only politicians

[@rammingspeed4941]

See Thomas Sheridans channel.. Its not "your" country..its not "your" identity. The Native Britons were PAGAN Celtic spiritual people before all the Roman and Norman and Saxon invasions

[@gomey70]

Thanks Mike. I've always found the English to be decent people also. There's always a few idiots wherever you go.

[@rammingspeed4941]

@MsMissy a)why don't you become my new wife!?? And b) what about the english Celts?

[@rammingspeed4941]

@MsMissy im not saying it shouldn't be your country....im saying the SAXON invaders and Prussian Royals in charge currently OWN it..not you

[@markevans5581]

First guy, in the brown outfit , is surely Terry Scott hobbling between carry on films 😁

[@TomthatiscalledTom]

I bet June gave him an earful that evening!

[@irishcountrygirl78]

Omg l thought the same, l grew up on Carry on films 🤣🤣🤣, the men were all creeps and the girls were all saucy minxs 🤣🤣

[@TheBenzer9]

1.00 glad Barry Gibb was asked his opion

[@DubSun33]

That guy at the end knew the answer to "who is responsible" but didn't have the honesty or courage to say "we are".

[@davidnorden1972]

Interestingly, you can hear that he has a slight Scottish accent in some of his vowels. Possibly a Scot who had moved to London decades previously.

[@adobdebunkology5671]

Title should really be "What do LONDONERS know about Ireland? 1980"...... It would have changed some answers, i.e When asking "Do you know any Irish people"..... If he asked that question in Liverpool, an answer might have been "Yeah, my grandma".

[@jdlc903]

Ha every other person across Britain has an Irish Grandmother-especially back then. I have an Irish great-grandmother.

[@materdeimusicd.buckley2974]

I agree. They even speak Gaeilge there, but they don't realise it. They call it their secret language.

[@eyebrowes1886]

Yes because there were no Irish people in London in 1980. Sigh.

[@You-were-seen-kid]

@@eyebrowes1886 that wasn't at all implied in the initial comment you halfwit

[@eyebrowes1886]

@@You-were-seen-kid He is implying that people in London wouldn't know Irish people but they would in Liverpool. So please explain how I'm a halfwit.

[@smogwog872]

I wonder if anybody gave a well informed answer to his questions but they decided not to air it because it it’s not what his audience back in Ireland prefer to think the English are ignorant to the history, there’s plenty of uninformed people on both sides of the Irish Sea in my experience

[@chlobich]

All fairness the salvation army guy was lovely

[@jonathanwhite5688]

Think u have a fair point there, when I lived in England I met many English who gave me a plausible account of our two countries tragic long histories and had no trouble at all due to my accent, I received unfortunately more anti Irish abuse in the so called Celtic cousin countries of Wales and Scotland than England so the myth in my POV there our cousins and England is the enemy is an absolute load of rubbish

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@jonathanwhite5688 Good riddance to them Tories are will walk over devolution

[@jonathanwhite5688]

for those saying im a west brit etc i am not i am simply saying what i observed living all over the uk over a protracted period

[@pugmahone9439]

There seems a lack of self awareness about the English when it comes to Ireland and their long history of occupation, colonialism, implementation of the Penal Laws , the break up of the country deliberately creating a sectarian state in the north that ultimately led to 30 years of the Troubles . It’s really quite astonishing that the only remorse the British have regarding their long brutal history in Ireland that oppressed generations of Irish people is getting involved in the first place as they look for an exit strategy.

[@johnfused8281]

Cause we weren't taught about it

[@materdeimusicd.buckley2974]

@The505Guys the shared history is still happening in N I. That's the problem. People are still being oppressed Today in the Northern Ireland part of the UK every day. But your nation doesn't generally listen to the news properly, as in current affairs, not history.

[@materdeimusicd.buckley2974]

@The505Guys thank you for asking. The Catholic population ( many of which are not even practicing Catholicism anymore, as with the unionists) live in poorer areas, with less facilities and amenities. Also, certain unnionist companies won't employ you if they find out you are Catholic or of Catholic descent. Walls are built between areas.Unionist orange marches very aggressive towards Catholics. The Catholic community have to stay in during these marches, sometimes 3 days. They object to the Irish language being spoken and Irish music. The recent aggression on the streets was the unionists reaction to Sinn Fein having permission to attend a funeral and attending it. ( To be clear, I love speaking Gaeilge, playing Irish music, but I'm not associated with the Sinn Fein party or the IRA in any way. I also live very far south in the Republic of Ireland.) Therefore, I don't have the full details, but the above mentioned are some of what I've become aware of. The Good Friday agreement has helped. The IRA ( Nationalist aggressors) and RUC (unionist aggressors) now have a lot less support, and that's better for both sides. Many younger Unionists see this as old and wrong, and are more open to change. However, there are a significant number of Unionists ( recent aggression included a 14 year old) who want to continue suppression of the Catholic community.

[@materdeimusicd.buckley2974]

Watching Derry girls, gives some idea. The oppression mentioned in this series is still going strong. You'll also notice that many Catholics were just as afraid of the IRA as everyone else. Violent behaviour provoked violent behaviour and the innocent suffered. At least that's stopped. However, recent events are a serious concern. The unionists have thrown out their leadership A. Foster because they want someone more " unionist' yet some of her comments regarding the right to speak Gaeilge are unrepeatable. Now Poots, new head of DUP has also resigned. There was the aggressive riots in the streets during lockdown. It's scary, particularly for those living in Northern Ireland. Also,to be clear , many Unionists don't want this, but a significant number want to continue with discrimination, racism. It's very ugly. This is why they don't want an Irish sea border. The Brexit situation has agitated the unionist community considerably. Try googling A Foster and Poots for more information. Also eleventh night Northern Ireland. Then Google 12th parade in Rossnawlagh and compare. ( Only orange parade in Republic of Ireland).

[@pugmahone9439]

@@materdeimusicd.buckley2974 current polls put the DUP at 16% and SinnFein at 25% , the latest census just taken this year (yet to be published)will show demographic changes that will shock unionism, if the DUP think a hard line strategy will be productive in representing their narrow agenda going forward they are only fooling themselves. For unionism to survive it needs to attract Catholic voters and that’s never going to happen if they resort to banging the Lambeg drum to rally the backwoods men or the hopelessly, never an inch bigots . There’s a young confident cohort of Nationalist and Republican voters who recognize a stable Northern Ireland will only succeed by respecting the culture and traditions of all citizens, fortunately they aren’t about domination or triumphalist celebrations but building a society where even Arlene Foster can feel comfortable in her retirement years singing That’s Life down in her local karaoke bar , could be a new career for her 🤔

[@freemindthinkerezrapound5071]

You have to hand it to the government education system they sure know how to grow mushrooms

[@bellabell737]

Same as Americans.

[@dogwklr]

They grow best on a pile of shit, you're right

[@dogwklr]

@The505Guys who was asking them to know everything? These are basic basic facts or knowledge about an island britain savaged and robbed for centuries so a little common sense would say youd maybe know one thing about it. It shows incredible ignorance and arrogance that most of the people react in the way they do, as if to say "why would I know anything about a place we also call part of our own country"? If you dont see the issue you're as big a tosser as they are, please go back into your hole and let the adults speak. The schools should teach about the savagery that took place to gain britain so much stolen resources and land. Might be a little hard to hear that you arent some saviours and gloriously brave people that oppressed and killed and starved millions, eh? You dont even know anything about your own country so maybe solve that one before you go excusing your cluelessness of elsewhere, the closest country to you and one with a massive shared history.

[@bellabell737]

@The505Guys Ireland is NOT an independent country. They are owned by the EU and big American tech.

[@dogwklr]

@@bellabell737 where are you from? Just out of curiosity. Are you from ireland or looking in from outside?

[@Jesse__H]

Interesting glimpse.

[@christophercrowley7574]

Nothings changed you swear Ireland is another planet

[@Desert-Father]

The only thing the Irish asked for, Madam, is for the British to get out! And as for the question of who is responsible for the Troubles, may I offer the Brits a mirror?

[@Joeblogs263]

No the Southern Irish were causing the violence in Northern Ireland. After you were given your independence rather easily. You murdered some protestants, blew up some churches. Praised Hitler and refused to accept Jewish refugees after WW2. Going further back in time, you made several attempts, to exterminate Ireland's protestant population. By rounding them up and burning them etc Easy to see why they did not want to be part of the Republic. Just because its on the same island, does not mean it should be part of the same country.

[@kennethkilleen8758]

You swear it was in a different continent. You can see why the troubles lasted as the English didn't know the problem so how could a solution be found. Its called British imperial amnesia. The British keep bringing up the war as a smoke screen. Up to the war the British were hated around the world

[@theoracle7148]

Imagine blaming random members of the public.

[@kennethkilleen8758]

@@theoracle7148 random members didn't ask why they was trouble in northern Ireland.. Their government

[@andrewdevine6333]

There was no war in Northern Ireland. The IRA didn't represent anywhere near a majority of nationalists. There were terrorism campaigns carried out by a minority of fanatics on both sides. That's not a war.

[@jamesmason8436]

You were alive before the war? And you surveyed the whole world? Impressive.

[@jamesmason8436]

@johanna walsh why should they?

[@lorcansnow2111]

"they say they're religious, but they're fighting over religion". It's actually the British in Ireland who were fighting over religion in the troubles, the orange order. The Catholics had no ethnoreligion supremacy group. They had the IRA and that was purely political.

[@aidenpower1844]

Imagine the uproar, chaos & confusion if you decided to "plant" a foreign culture and way of life in someone else's country? Then proceed to take all the good land from the locals, charge them for living on a tiny part of it, make them work for virtually nothing, starve them, take away their langauge etc etc. Then replicate this experiment across the world say for instance in India, Africa and Australia. Wonder what effect this would have on society??? Hmmmm??

[@ruairiose7335]

@@aidenpower1844 Ireland was an early testing ground for English colonialism. The more successful colonial experiments (such as cultivating a new ascendancy loyal to English authority) were exported across the empire later on.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Spain and France as well used territory acquired in Europe for honing their methods

[@bfc2155]

There's a lot of protestant Irish, surely this is known. A lot of Irish migrated to Scotland long before the plantation, so a lot of those Scots have Irish ancestry.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@bfc2155 They were largely low land Scots

[@thomasfurey00]

The channel is great. Please could find some archive irish stories for sleeping. 👍

[@michaelpower4372]

Ye'r royal family rubbish is great for putting me asleep.🛌☘

[@johnmc3862]

I think this gives some impression that people from the UK are totally focused on themselves and care nowt for their neighbours!

[@derekobeirnes482]

BBC NEWS propaganda machine...

[@johnmc3862]

@@derekobeirnes482 More like the tabloids.

[@andrewdevine6333]

Most Irish people have zero interest in history or politics in Ireland never mind the history of their neighbours. Why do some Irish people expect your average English person (many with Irish ancestry) to have a detailed knowledge of Ireland? The degree of narcissistic conceit among some of us Irish is breathtaking.

[@johnmc3862]

@@andrewdevine6333 It's not so much interest its just some general knowledge about the closest country.

[@fcb9950]

@@andrewdevine6333 😂😂😂😂😂. Oh dear. Absolutely Priceless

[@mjakes20]

I know people get angry at how ignorant British people are about Irish matters but is it really because Irish people are naturally more enlightened and learned? Irish people are constantly exposed to and immersed in British television, British TV shows and films, British newspapers, British sport, British music and even British history. Our relative sizes means British people will never immersed in all things Irish to the same degree. I would also wager that if you asked an average Irish person what sprung to mind when they thought of France or Germany, the answers would not be any more erudite and culturally fluent than those of the average Brit (about as far away from France and with the same language barrier as the Irish person).

[@animatewithdermot]

As per my previous reply to asdf above, this is a faulty comparison. The Irish didn't invade France or Germany and rule over them for 500 years. Had they done so, learning a little about the people and cultures in France and Germany might just be considered the polite thing to do. A country that invades nobody isn't to be blamed if its citizens are indifferent to the outside world. A country that makes its business to invade and interfere IS to be blamed when said interference explodes in its face.

[@tomthumb3500]

Very good points raised there and very well written.

[@animatewithdermot]

Firstly Britain was never invaded by those countries. They're modern constructs, don't be confusing the Romans with Italy or the Vikings with Sweden. Yeeesh. Even allowing (for argument's sake) that Britain had been invaded by France at some point, at the time of this video the UK was still IN IRELAND, the British army very active in the 6 counties...and yet in spite of the British army being active there (and British soldiers fighting and dying there) nobody in the vid knows a thing about the place beyond bombers and leprechauns (and screw that guy). The 6 counties aren't just a foreign country mind, *they're part of the UK* - a part of their own country, supposedly. And they don't know one darned thing about the place, it's really extraordinary. If the Irish had invaded Belgium for 500 years, and continued to occupy 15% of Belgium today, I'd bloody well expect Irish people to know more about the place than "They make Beer and Chocolate".

[@andrewdevine6333]

@@animatewithdermot Irish Gaels supplanted Pict culture in much of Northern Britain over a thousand years ago giving Scotland the Gaelic strand in its identity. Do you know everything there is to know about the consequences of this for Scottish and British history?

[@jamesmason8436]

@@animatewithdermot this is 60 years after independence - think the average Brit cared or even knew much about all that? Get over yourself.

[@path1024]

The Irish are not friendly. They are good humored. There is a difference!

[@ifwecouldvote]

Friendly people can be found everywhere, but I've travelled the world, and the Irish are some of the friendliest I've ever met. The English are great too, but they are definitely more arrogant and cold on the most part.

[@finnkdy]

treachery gallantry, humour sharper than a scalpel, go hand in hand. Toujours.

[@czarhavoc312]

@@finnkdy treachery?

[@gammonsandwich1756]

I always am dumbfounded by the way the Irish say "The English" as though every single one of us has been in on it since the beginning and we're all the same. No Englishman would be allowed to broad brush another people like that.

[@iersejounge]

I live in England. Always found it a great place to live. They seem to notice I'm Irish more than I do. I forget most of the time. Life happens. They're people just like us just getting on with things. We bitch at them for not caring about us and look how we treat the travelling community. ??? . I dont care if people accept me or not. When your worried about the opinions of others, your only living a limited version of your life. I remember in 2000 living in Sydney, Australia. I used to live a 10 minute drive from bondi. On the back wall of the beach in huge graffiti was IRA British out...Ireland 32 counties. FFS. The Ozzie's Said we were like rats over there. I worked in an Irish pub and the "lads" used to give English employees a hard time. I was embarrassed. If it was such a fcukin great place, why did they ever leave??

[@andrewdevine6333]

Lived in England for years. I'm of mixed Irish and British heritage but reared in the Republic of Ireland. The type of Irish person you described in Australia I used to avoid like a plague in England. I have zero in common with their bigoted anti-English mindset.

[@michaelpower4372]

I bet when you lived in Ireland your were happy and had the crack never use foul language. But moving to england you got into there ways bitter and nasty and a hooligan. Thas the impression you give me on your post☘

[@michaelpower4372]

Ah the poor engish were giving a hard time look at all the trouble English supporters caused any time there was a football match on the damage they use to cause and your on about give them a hard time in a pub ah ah they were probably ask to do a bit of work☘

[@iersejounge]

@@michaelpower4372 troll says what?????

[@michaelpower4372]

@@iersejounge if your not worried about things said about this and that why are been nasty then.🤥🤥🤥Troll hypocrite

[@fergspan5727]

Who is responsible for the troubles ? I wonder what they would say if Gay Byrne told them

[@SparrowHills08]

Republicans are, how is there any other answer.

[@ronniebibby1283]

@@SparrowHills08 shows how little you know really.

[@SparrowHills08]

@@ronniebibby1283 🤔 Republicans rioted for civil rights, rather than just driving down south for a few miles HMMMM

[@ronniebibby1283]

@@SparrowHills08 well the same could be said for the Ulster Scots it's a short boat trip back to your homeland what's good for one is good enough for the other. With that attitude it proves my original point.

[@lorcansnow2111]

@@ronniebibby1283 That was one of the best rebuttals I've ever heard haha very sharp

[@HandleGF]

The saddest thing about Ireland today is the creeping replacement of slagging as a term with that pathetic word "banter"

[@pipeqez911]

Your no fun lad

[@HandleGF]

@@thefullronnie When a person uses the word "micro-aggressions" that person is to be avoided if possible :-)

[@sunrayisdown1690]

Probably as much as they know about the Scots.

[@liamthewarrior]

I gather they too ask too much

[@haydnevans1963]

and the welsh

[@shanethetrain8132]

Who gives a good fuck about those bitter, whinging people north of the border.

[@stykemccormack3741]

Lots of family of irish descend unfortunately most english peoples historical knowledge is limited to to the sun newspaper or the back of a matchbox

[@CrashExhibition]

@@robturner3065 sounds a lot more like England!

[@HerbsActuallyWork]

3:12 Fair point and it happens in every culture and country too.

[@conorh4882]

Send them all back you say? 👋

[@lindawick455]

Yeah, wrf was that about? Sending Plantation Scots back to Scotland. English back to England? "Give Ireland back to the Irish, don't make them have to take it away"

[@chucky2316]

I'm English by a large margin, Irish background and I can tell my English friend and countryman where exactly do I go. And even when I get there a Irish family may have my land 🤣😂. English and proud me self. All I have is two surnames Boyle and daly maybe I could pin point the area in Ireland but where do I come from🤣. My nan always said limerick and Cork but that's a lot of land and Irish population 😂🤣

[@chucky2316]

Conor he would have a terrible job 🤣

[@michaelpower4372]

@@chucky2316 your enghish part came out not one bit of since stay were you are in england and chance your name to Henry, George, Windsor, Charles, it would be better. Cheers mate🤭☘😎

[@chucky2316]

@@michaelpower4372 I have no intention of leaving England I'm born here and Irish people have sacrificed and worked hard when arriving in Britain. English and proud to be

[@Lysimachus]

I'm English, with an Irish grandad. There's a foreign policy disconnect between what the British government wants and what English people want. For the most part, the issue of British struggle to control any part of Ireland was an issue between the people of Ireland and the British government. Only the man at the end - 2:41 - appeared to understand that it was historically a British govn't/Irish people relationship. In the meantime, while the British government has attempted to conserve the kingdom's status around the world, it has largely kept the English people in the dark about its relationship with Ireland. England's National Curriculum makes little, if any, mention of Ireland as a subject of history. Oliver Cromwell took a leading role in a mutually bloody, ethnic-based conflict in Ireland, but here he's only taught as the man who re-organised the government's army and ended divine right for good. Catholics in England were politically emancipated in 1832, so the sectarianism angle simply doesn't occur in the average English person's mind - instead it's simply viewed as Irish versus other Irish (not unlike Serbo-Croats versus other Serbo-Croats in Bosnia). This is despite the fact that Northern Ireland is ultimately the creation of the English people's own government. Even today, the border between NI and the Republic is called the "Irish border" in popular English media, but its creation + recent hardening is all the doing of the British government. It has never been the interest of the British government to explain to English people the whats and whys of its foreign policy, NI included. That's a core reason why this 1980 video is full of people drawing blanks about a land that's a few hours by ferry from Liverpool. If for some reason my people were given fair and honest accounts from all sorts of people in Northern Ireland and then asked to vote on the issue, you would see a united Ireland within a week.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Agreed

[@agf1700]

Good comment. I’ll quote John Hume “The Irish never forget and the English never remember”. Very appropriate given Boris and cohorts attitude towards the GFA!

[@howardmoon3075]

Why would British people vote on Northern Ireland? The Irish themselves voted on independence or remaining part of the UK and that's why there is a Northern Ireland. The majority of Irish in the north are protestants and voted not to join the south.

[@bfc2155]

Have you been drinking 😂

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@howardmoon3075 Times are changing

[@aineomalley6431]

I like the guy at the end.. As soon as someone with good will tries, someone will come along and try to turn it around. Reminds me of today's world.

[@waverunner3911]

In my experience people only know the good in themselves and the bad in there neighbours, this is a world wide situation not local, we all done bad things just some more than others to wrongs doesn't make a right 🍵🍵🍵

[@shanemcnamara5224]

0:33 its Terry Scott!!

[@nojabhere]

Thats exactly who I thought it was hahhahaha

[@andrewdevine6333]

Why are so many of us obsessed with being Irish and what the English and America think of us? It's utter cringe. Being Irish or any other ethnicity is an accident of birth. Lots I love and dislike about Ireland/and being Irish (and British too) but my ethnicity and heritage don't fully define me as an individual.

[@annemurray8654]

Andrew Dec, spot on although that was in the early 80s. I think we have moved on and progressed since then but yeah, cringe worthy indeed.

[@chrisfallon9678]

I am British , English born with an Irish surname !!!! All the same to me ,all from the British isles or United Kingdom !

[@hapennyproductions3800]

I get where ur coming, I've seen ppl in the comment section of irish based videos where ppl comment "I'm irish" like stfu no one cares.

[@andrewdevine6333]

@@chrisfallon9678 I'm Irish born and of mixed Gaelic Irish and Ulster Scots heritage. Both islands are home to me. Being Irish and British aren't mutually exclusive. So many of us are of mixed heritage. The peoples of these islands are inextricably linked through ancestry and shared culture.

[@Shane-Flanagan]

Just because ethnicity and heritage is important to some people does not make it cringe

[@TheBenzer9]

1.41 first human sheep speaks about the roof of his shed.. corrugated iron

[@younglock5499]

brilliant haha

[@michaelpower4372]

The english🤭 were sent packing in the ruby 32/18by "IRELAND" hip hip hora hip hip hora🇨🇮🇨🇮🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 ☘☘☘☘☘☘☘

[@michaelpower4372]

@alfred yes i'll have the early bath or shower ready for ye.🛁🚿 😅

[@buddymacbuddington]

No Internet back then only biased media so can't really blame them for thinking the way they did ,the person you should be most concerned about what they think of you is yourself

[@theinternetexplorer7873]

I find that English these days are still ignorant but little interested in Ireland history stuff. I lived in England for a bit and my optician of all people seem to give the exact response that most people in England have on Ireland. "It's a lovely place, shame all those troubles though"

[@jonathanwhite5688]

I’m Irish and lived in England and quite a number of English ppl I spoke to had a fairly good knowledge of Ireland and our history , not all the individuals I spoke to were of Irish descent either , yes I agree not widely taught of our two nations long sad history but individuals I have personally met have given me a plausible account of it

[@jonathanwhite5688]

Plus I’ve personally experienced a lot more anti Irish comments and racism in Scotland and Wales particularly western Scotland, in Ireland I think we have this myth of our Celtic cousins in both Scotland and Wales sorry I’ve experienced vile racism in both countries purely for being Irish Scotland particularly western Scotland has a big anti Irish problem which needs to be addressed ......

[@lightfootpathfinder8218]

@@jonathanwhite5688 Thats interesting to hear ...can I ask you(and I don't mean to insult you) do Irish people see a difference between being "British" & being "English" ??

[@jonathanwhite5688]

@@lightfootpathfinder8218 in my experience I’ve heard many Scots and welsh who’ve told me they consider themselves British first and Scots welsh second and on the flip side English ppl saying there English not British that’s what I have experienced living in England Scotland Wales

[@lightfootpathfinder8218]

@@jonathanwhite5688 thanks for the reply👍.. it does get on my nerves when People say "the English government" when they mean the UK government ....there hasn't been an English government since 1707 lol

[@sjacrane]

You saved the best to last with that last guy. He was the only highbrow one out of the lot.

[@alaskadave007]

Gay Burn We Miss You Still...... March 2021

[@michaelpower4372]

Yath yes still remember the hames he made of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire.

[@sandratogneri9982]

Drink & Music & a lovely accent XXX ❤

[@sandratogneri9982]

& of course George Best ....he was a bit of alright ❤ Loads of things like any where else ....always been drawn to Ireland....not sure why XXX

[@thespamdance311]

A great bunch of lads!

[@sallyroddy6566]

lived in London for years and loved it but people hadn't a clue about their history in Ireland. It isn't taught so ....

[@Chopsyochops]

They wouldn’t want the English to know about the atrocities that were brought on by their own country. So they wouldn’t teach it. Just like they never taught about all the other colonisation the british did in history. When I was there they only taught us about the wars with France and other stuff. Never about the real stuff.

[@Joeblogs263]

@@Chopsyochops The Irish seem to be even more ignorant of their history. Ireland was not a colony, it was an integral part of the UK. The Irish voted in British elections and we have had a few Irish prime ministers. Irish people, were to be found at the highest levels of British society. Furthermore as far as the empire is concerned. Throughout the period that the republic of Ireland was in the UK. Much of the British army (including some famous generals) were Irish. There were many civil servants and governors of various teritories who were Irish (even after independence). The were also many Irish businessmen, who became very rich from the British empire. Where do you think all of that fancy historic architecture around Dublin came from? Of course it is shameful, that the British government, was unable to do enough to stop the famine in Ireland. However other European governments were at times guilty of the same sort of failures. Ireland may at times have been badly governed. However, it did later prosper and was about as much of a colony, as Normandy or Texas. If you told an Indian, that Ireland was a British colony, then they would laugh at you.

[@Chopsyochops]

@@Joeblogs263 that’s not how I saw things or what I was taught living in Derry as a child. If you lived there too and saw what I saw you’d be less favourable to the British.

[@TizerisT.]

1:38 This guy was way ahead with his dress sense in 1980. In the mid-90's this would become the default way for teenagers to dress. Kudos to him.

[@Yerfdog1]

"Do you know anything about Ireland?" Me: yeah. It's way better than the UK.

[@venmxshadows]

Fucking too ri brother 🍀🇮🇪🤙

[@shanethetrain8132]

Why? (Awaiting the usual racist shit)

[@JohnCenaFan6298]

Wdym? There is hardly a difference. No identity or anything to care for in either case. Both crapholes with no future

[@freeplex589]

Stop talking rubbish

[@freeplex589]

@@venmxshadows stop talking crap

[@MonicaLillis]

A Post Office Clerk in London once asked me if Dublin was north or south. And my Friend's Boyfriend (2019)asked the same.

[@shipwreckscuba2651]

Great quote, Gladstone thought he had the answer to the Irish question and then the Irish changed it

[@RJH1971]

@freebeerfordworkers yep, you're right, you're being pedantic.

[@lorcansnow2111]

@@RJH1971 Actually it changes the meaning entirely.

[@tpower1912]

@@lorcansnow2111 hardly

[@lorcansnow2111]

@@tpower1912 Okay.

[@fredcollierfinishingtouche6701]

@freebeerfordworkers you’re not being pedantic. I am.

[@Sean-sn9ld]

Everyone's first thought was "terrorism!!!!!" but decided to be polite and try and say nice things

[@PaddyWardeBand]

Gladstone never found the answer to the 'Irish Question', he decided to wash hands off the place following the Irish convention and the victory in '18.

[@anonUK]

Gladstone died in 1898.

[@PaddyWardeBand]

Asquith and Lloyd George sorry

[@SandyRiverBlue]

That's some smart editing. The rather stunning woman at the beginning bookended with a rather dashing older gentleman at the end.

[@brianlam1663]

What strikes me is how engaged the interviewees are! Even if they may not have an informed opinion, they are still articulate and engaged!!!

[@johnathanryan2117]

Clever by Gay Byrne, the tone of the interview suggests such that the English care whats going on there. They dont. As others have suggested, the London English have no idea whats going on in the rest of England, let alone others countries in the Isles

[@irishcountrygirl78]

The IRISH troubles 🤣🤣. Nothing to do with Britain lol.

[@michaelpower4372]

But Ireand is mean to its own people as well it looks after the big shots and flest the ordinary people with crippling rents over the top medicine prices and heating cost and to get a mortgage you'd have to be earning 5 r 6 grand week.

[@irishcountrygirl78]

@@michaelpower4372 greed gets the better of the currupt rich in every country. Sounds like you've experienced life in Dublin. Housing is a problem in Ireland, awful seeing people living in hotels in Dublin with their children, stuck inside one room. I often wonder why they don't move on out to the country, but they probably have family and roots there. I don't experience this meanness in Donegal, people are very kind. The rich will always put themselves first, that is how they stay rich.

[@michaelpower4372]

@@irishcountrygirl78 Yes your right would'nt like to be like people living with children in one room.

[@odonnchada9994]

@@michaelpower4372 Your French.

[@michaelpower4372]

Na!

[@loganford3921]

When I think of Ireland Father Ted always enters my mind.

[@justinkeenan1598]

That would be an ecumenical matter

[@Hazed64]

Notice the interviewer is trying to coax a bad answer out of the first girl, asked her for her first though but coaxes three answers out of her

[@bpsutherland]

Well, he asked her about the Irish, not Ireland. The Irish are not green. 😂

[@Ig12364]

You know around that time some shops in the UK used to have signs saying "no blacks, no Irish and no dogs"

[@billabong9215]

My friend bought a t shirt from an Irish guy living in Jamaica with his Jamaican wife and it says More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish Look em up, their pretty class t-shirts.

[@Ig12364]

@John Bold well we were bombing England at the time (IRA) etc

[@katoness]

@@thebeatcreeper So why did Richard Harris put his fist through a window, when he saw the sign for "no blacks, no Irish and no dogs". My auntie also went over to England in the 50's and saw the same sign. She then returned back to Ireland.

[@katoness]

@@thebeatcreeper Here you go kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKfVpXRvaNCJaLc&ab_channel=TroyDouglas917

[@andrewdevine6333]

@@Ig12364 'We' weren't. During the troubles the vast majority of Irish people opposed the IRA.

[@peterbentley5184]

They are oblivious to history god bless them ..

[@patrickpower4849]

Ahh yes Gladstone had the solution , a land act in 1870. That surely should’ve kept us quiet

[@seandoherty925]

Well he was a supporter of Home Rule. If that had been brought in when first mooted and not been so adamantly opposed by Northern Unionism who knows how different history might have been.

[@hugostiglitz6914]

Uninformed Irish people tent to blame the English people for everything from Queen Elizablth 1st onwards. But if you ever looked at the history of Britain the ordinary people were treated no better. Historically there was a lot of poverty Britain. If you want to blame anyone for the Empire blame the British establishment.

[@Minime163]

I'd understand them knowing or caring nothing about the republic but they seem to know as little and care as little about northern Ireland

[@McCRBen]

An interesting read on the subject of Irish English relations which was written for Australians by Martin McMahon. It’s called ‘I cry for my people’. Has anyone else read it ?

[@emmamartin822]

No but I’m going to try and find a copy. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@leahflower9924]

Come out ye black and tans...or something like that lol

[@Micker375]

Plus in the 80s you had papers and a bit of TV. Was hard to know much about other countries

[@Beanbag777]

Ryan Tubridy is still asking this cringe question to all his guests today . Little has changed

[@TheBenzer9]

2.41 thought he was going to keep saying no lol

[@maverick214]

You could ask the same question in 2021 in a typical English high street and get the same level of ignorance.

[@George-q3p3y]

0:56 its not about religion its about the unification of Ireland

[@myaphextwin807]

"Leprechauns, shamrock, Guinness... horses running through council estates... toothless simpletons... people with eyebrows on their cheeks... badly tarmacked drives (in England), men in platform shoes being arrested for bombings... lots of rocks, and Beamish"

[@jangowan5742]

When I was in england,I was suprised at how much "make up" the average English guys put on,lol,and paper panties were the rage with the girls,mini- skirt n Hot pants were in fashion ,fashion was influenced by models like Twiggy,etc

[@jangowan5742]

If they wanted to sell a new fashion idea,they just paid top models to be photographed wearing it,lol

[@jangowan5742]

A lot of people coming from Ireland were country people ,and found it difficult to adapt to city life,and we hung around in gangs,usually getting pissed in Irish clubs,and Bookies,

[@dixgun]

One of the respondents reminded me of John Cleese and one reminded me of Steve Jones.

[@MaximilienRobespierre1]

Rebels and Leprechauns 😂

[@ErnieKings27]

Murderers and reptilians

[@04Redeemed]

@@ErnieKings27 fish and chips

[@michaelpower4372]

Irish "HEROS" for sanding up to the enghish 1916👍☘☘☘

[@georgiasmith9672]

Don’t know their own history so will certainly not know anything about Ireland l am 74 and know that for a fact they are clueless about any history

[@georgiasmith9672]

@@ErnieKings27 do you mean the English yes l agree

[@heysomeone0310]

Wow England in 1980….wish I could go visit….would need a Time Machine

[@michaelroberts7374]

The comments are great craic!

[@Rustsamurai1]

Amazing. And only a few hundred miles away.

[@oliver8928]

I think the most striking thing here is the almost total ambivalence of people. Call it ignorance or modesty, but it's surprising people had no strong feelings when put on the spot with such a vague, open ended question. It's quite difficult to just reel off information out of the blue when and probably more concerned with what sort of situation you are in and what sort of answer you should give rather than you would give - but I think if anything this shows a lack of hard feelings in most peoples cases.

[@jeffmorse645]

I was curious and searched something (as an American). Apparently the Irish and British have something called the CTA which allows them to freely move between the two countries, work, apply for benefits, etc... I thought after the Republic of Ireland was founded that was it, but it seems if someone from England wants to move to the Republic they can and visa versa. That's actually pretty awesome.

[@fyrdman2185]

It's not awesome for me? Why would I want a bunch of paddys with chips on their shoulders coming to Britain?

[@Geres-v3w]

​​@@fyrdman2185 Same can be said here we don't want English.

[@jjman111188]

British people about the Irish... "They like to drink and it rains a lot there"..... Nothing like Britain of course with their sobriety and sunny weather 🤣🤣🤣

[@artdeco907]

haha the best comment

[@Imyourhuckleberry01]

As an Englishman, I totally agree with some of the comments that it was unfair and frankly ridiculous asking some Brits back in 1980 about Ireland when the World Wide Web or Google had no even been invented then and we Brits only got stuff from the BBC or Newspapers with an anti IRA Republican bias and pro Unionist bias which was limited the troubles in Northern Ireland anyway. All most Brits knew were things like the IRA blowing up a 2 Birmingham pubs in 1974 where 21 young Brits were needlessly killed and 180 others injured many with life changing injuries. Is it no wonder the interviewer gets some of the reactions he did? Of course man asking the question is Irish and born in Dublin. Interestingly enough his father who was also Irish actually joined the British Army in 1912 and fought all the way through WW1 at some of the most awful campaigns in Europe. This was of course the same “British Army” who ruthlessly put down the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916 when the British infamously executed 16 of the Rising rebel leaders. These ex Irish British soldiers were viewed rather unfairly perhaps as “traitors” by some Irish republicans at the time many of whom went on to fight against the Irish Republican Army (the original IRA) during the Irish War of independence 1919-1921 (although the interviewers father left the British Army in 1919) which obviously ended in the partition of Ireland in 1921 and the onset of the Irish Civil War. If you were at school in Ireland you are taught all this stuff as children, but how many British school children were taught this stuff, ZERO is my guess.

[@fyrdman2185]

Why shouldn't a British newspaper be biased towards Unionists who are British by heritage and support England even in football, as opposed to the Irish who resent us and were committing terrorist acts on innocent British civilians?

[@Imyourhuckleberry01]

@@fyrdman2185 lol, innocent British civilians? What the hell do you think the British were doing in Ireland over the past 600 years, why are you writing such uneducated and hypocritcal nonsense. Get an education lad.

[@Geres-v3w]

@@fyrdman2185 British civilians who took part in violence against irish communities that makes you part of the conflict And a newspaper is meant too be neutral that's the whole point of free speach not propoghanda from loyalist bs.

[@kevinflaherty9669]

They haven't a clue

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Are you English? 🤣 I used to work in a hostel and there was this crazy old guy that used to go around asking that. Now I think I might have found the reference!

[@prepperinireland2240]

I'm a Scot now living in the Republic. Someone should interview the English about the Scots nowadays. The vitriol and scorn etc would maybe be an eye opener. Then again, maybe not... Been living here over a year now. Love the land, love the people and the culture, which has much in common with my native Scotland.

[@Joeblogs263]

Oh stop shit stirring. I have never heard any "vitriol and scorn" directed at the Scottish down here. You are just looking for ways to justify your own bigotry.

[@liam.4454]

What town or city was this filmed? I'm thinking London but I can't recognise any of the places

[@MadDogsVlog]

Around Oxford Circus in London

[@michaelberry1793]

It just goes to show how easy it is and was to brainwash people

[@userbosco]

Fascinating. The first woman he interviewed hit it on the head tho....

[@liammeech3702]

2:10 Brave to say that on TV, whew lad.

[@phil16]

He sounds like boris's dad.

[@TomthatiscalledTom]

Work on that 'oik' accent lad and the Tory leadership will one day be yours!

[@arnoldhills5815]

You have to ask what Gay Byrne was wanting to prove, you could probably ask what people know about Scotland, England or Wales or the Isle of Man or Sussex, Cork or Kirkcaldy and then just show on TV those respondents that knew little, a media circus, that’s what it is, to be sure!

[@tomfoley5837]

1:56 stopped smiling almost immediately after that silly comment

[@danw1463]

Yep he’s definitely a bellend

[@Blank-km4qr]

@@danw1463 your mum

[@danw1463]

@@Blank-km4qr no u

[@johnboy1042]

Different times how I miss them good old day's

[@flashtheoriginal]

As an Englishman, I was never taught about Anglo-Irish relations and history - it was not part of the curriculum. I recall a few years back whem the Queen visited the Republic of Ireland and was astonished at how sterile the reception was; I didnt understand why there was such a fuss about security or why her visit was controversial. That shows a complete cover up and ignorance from our perspective. I am only learning now, late in life, why the English are so detested in Ireland. And I "get it". United Ireland NOW, by peaceful and democratic means. The concept of a United Kingdom is flawed and the good people of Northern Ireland aspire to Irish identity first and foremost. However I am sickened by Dublin's official non-reaction to all this. Why are they not more open, enthusiastic and politically forceful about bringing NI into into a one-island state? One nation, under European Union membership, blue flag with gold stars, European passports, the € currency fully adopted. It would save the over-burdened English taxpayer BILLIONS. Because we want to be left alone to get on with our lives. God bless us all

[@Felix-rising]

If the north aspires to be united with the south there is provision for a referendum in the GFA. The reason Dublin keeps quiet about it is they know they can’t afford it

[@ifwecouldvote]

It's not as simple as this I'm afraid. I'm from the North and I'm Irish. I've spoken to a lot of Irish people south of the border and many (especially the younger generation) see all of us 'Northerners' as British. They don't discern between Republicans and Unionists, they just don't really care about us, or think about us at all. That's the sad truth. The younger generation in the North simply see themselves as Northern Irish, which is distinct from the Republic, and the UK. It's a bit like the difference between Scotland and the UK. To be fair, you could put up the argument that Northern Ireland is more Scottish than it is Irish, because that's were the majority of settlers came from. But many Northern Irish people couldn't accept that, because many of them have moulded an identity around their British or Irish heritage.

[@ALJB0704]

As someone who was made a refugee in my own country by your government s occupation of my country, I agree with your sentiment. Dublin alone could not succeed in doing so. In 1921, that shameful treaty forced upon the Irish government carved up my country. The still occupied 6 counties, were taken. It created a racist state, protestant state for a protestant people, pro queen, pro your anthem etc etc. Catholics could be shot on the streets and were just for being Catholic. Sadly, English people know nothing of the horrors inflicted on Ireland. Cromwell was another. In 1591, Drogheda he slaughtered 10,000 people. In today's terminology, that is ethnic cleansing. Trevelyan another English appointee, again employed ethnic cleansing during the famine. This is evidenced in both Irish and English state papers / documents. One million died. One million or more emigrated. Shameful !

[@ALJB0704]

One last thing, I do not care one penny about what it has cost you and your fellow sasanach inhabitants financially. Billions ? Si what. If Ireland was to be recompense d for 853 years of occupation and all the crimes committed and murders etc, you would become poorer than Zimbabwe. Billions you say ? Read Irish history and tell me your billions matter. Slan leat

[@js2749]

Saint Patrick was, believe it or not, English (even though England as such did not exist at the time). He was from Somerset and kidnapped to Ireland by Irish slavers. Fact