Surprised there's been no discussion here of the riot in Dublin

[mcscajun]

on Saturday last.

Don't know what kind of coverage it got here in the States, but just having returned from two weeks in Ireland, it's been top of the news there since midday Saturday into yesterday evening. It was doubly troubling as it occurred during the "Six Nations" weekend, which saw a major tourist influx into the city's hotels and the Temple Bar area.

There was certainly a failure of "intelligence" prior to the riot, and I'm curious to hear from the Irish Affairs DUers about their thoughts on this whole business.

[Maeve]

1. I followed talk about it all weekend

On Irish news and discussion boards. Basicly, it looks to me like the gardai thought that the political people were all staying sane, so expected no trouble. They did NOT expect the local street types and such to take so much offense at the group from the North planning to parade past the GPO. Oops.

It was a black eye for the gardai, an embarassment for Dublin and probably insignificant for the peace process. It does point out the need to deal with the problems of the urban underclass.

As for how it was covered here.... :eyes: My local paper ran a story titled "Pro-IRA riot blocks parade by Protestants", which tells you all you need to know about the slant that one took!

[mcscajun]

2. "Slant" did seem to the be the order of the day in reporting.

Unknowingly, my friend who bought the paper brought home a Rupert Murdoch rag, so you Know the reporting was slamming in one direction. It spent a lot of time associating the hoodlum response with responsible elements who had asked people Not to become provoked or to take any action to stop the "Love Ulster" march.

[mcscajun]

3. Apology and Correction. I see there Was at least One Thread here

on the riot.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2132010

[Maeve]

4. That one was fairly civil

Although there were quite a few participants who don't know half of what they think they do...mostly because their info is outdated.

[mcscajun]

5. Your sig line reminded me of this line I brought back with me from

a pub in Cong. It was on the back of a sugar packet, from a series called "A Spoonful of Irish."

Irish: "An rud is annamh is iontach."
English translation: "What is strange is wonderful."

I couldn't agree more. :)

[Maeve]

6. I change it from time to time

But always in the Irish with translation! A good source for Irish proverbs is www.daltai.com .

[mcscajun]

7. Thanks for the link!

:)

[Narraback]

8. Thank you for the link.

NT

[RogueTrooper]

9. I was caught in the middle of it

it was frightening.

[mcscajun]

10. Sorry to hear it, Trooper. Hope you're all okay.

It certainly looked frightening on the news while I was in Ireland. We saw it from Doolin on the TV on that Saturday night and again Sunday morning. It gave us pause, but we proceeded with our plans to visit and hit Dublin Sunday night. We had more to worry about from the Six Nations morans than rioters, thankfully.

Still, when on the sightseeing bus on that Monday, it was impossible Not to see the broken windows and boards for what used to be glass doors on some of the shops on O'Connell Street.