Beorn
06-16-2010, 12:28 AM
Be prepared for a surge of unfamiliar pro-American feeling in some of the less salubrious pubs across the country this evening. Thousands of viewers will be cheering on the good ol' United States (http://www.independent.ie/topics/United+States) with beery fervour -- for the simple reason that they are playing against England (http://www.independent.ie/topics/United+Kingdom).
Old Blighty is supposed to be our sworn enemy. And if it's England against North Korea (http://www.independent.ie/topics/North+Korea) in one of the next rounds, the same half-cut bowsies will discover a hitherto-hidden passion for the mysterious Asian tyranny. "Come on ye Kims!''
The casual English visitor, and indeed many Irish pubgoers, may be shocked by such naked displays of anti-Brit bigotry. But nobody should be deceived by this macho, saloon-bar posturing. It is only half the story.
For every loud-mouthed Anglophobe there are probably four Anglophiles, quietly nursing their pints, or at home cheering on Rooney and Gerrard. A few will probably even hum along to God Save The Queen.
In a poll running on the website boards.ie, respondents are being asked whether they like, hate or are completely indifferent to the British (in this case British can be read as English).
Although a lumpen core of people (9pc) express hatred for our nearest neighbours, they are dwarfed by the 47pc who say they like them.
In the quiet of the morning, and at the setting of the sun, we cannot conceal our soft spot for our neighbours.
Increasingly this fondness is expressed publicly, even in pubs. At last, Anglophiles can step gingerly out of the closet.
Professor Terry Dolan (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Terry+Dolan), of the English Department in UCD, will be supporting England tonight. Born in London (http://www.independent.ie/topics/London+%28England%29) of Cavan (http://www.independent.ie/topics/County+Cavan) parents, and educated at Oxford (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Oxford), the author of A Dictionary of Hiberno-English believes that anti-English sentiment has declined since the end of the Troubles. "The fact that the Queen is likely to visit here shows how the mood has changed,'' he said.
If sales of their football shirts in Ireland (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Ireland) are anything to go by, English people will be more prepared than ever to wear their colours during this World Cup (http://www.independent.ie/topics/FIFA+World+Cup). "Sales of the shirts are up 50pc in Ireland and are already almost sold out,'' says Jonathan Courtney (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Jonathan+Courtney) of the shirt-maker Umbro (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Umbro+International+Ltd.).
During previous World Cups there were many shops that simply refused to sell the shirts.
The atmosphere for English supporters may have become friendlier in most places, but that doesn't mean that it is plain sailing all the way.
Asked whether he would wear an England shirt in a pub, Dublin (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Dublin+%28Ireland%29)-based English journalist Maurice Newman (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Maurice+Newman) said: "That very much depends on the pub. Perhaps there has been a softening in attitudes among the middle classes, but there is still a traditional hatred of the English among some people. I have been called a 'f***ing English twat' in pubs, and I have had complete strangers come up to me to gloat if England lost a match.''
The Anglo-Irish relationship has always been an enigmatic one. It slips from your grasp as soon as you feel have a hold of it. When England last won the World Cup in 1966 there were some celebrations on the streets of Dublin, according to one journalist who remembers the day well. "Magnificent England!'' said the headline on the front page of the Sunday Independent on the following day.
The '70s and '80s strained the friendship to breaking point. The murder of innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday, internment, and IRA bombs in London and Birmingham (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Birmingham+%28England%29) helped to amplify resentments on either side.
Paddy Mulligan, former captain of the Irish football team, played for Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Queens+Park+Rangers+FC) at the height of the troubles.
"There was anti-Irish feeling in London when there were bombings. I remember after some of those incidents I didn't want to go out for days because I was Irish.''
Even then the bonds of friendship survived. In 1973, a year after the Welsh and the Scots had refused to play rugby internationals in Dublin because of perceived dangers, the English came to play at Lansdowne Road (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Lansdowne+Road) and were cheered to the rafters.
After his team lost, the English captain John Pullin (http://www.independent.ie/topics/John+Pullin) famously remarked at the post-match dinner with Corinthian grace: "We may not be any good, but at least we turn up.''
On a superficial level, the closeness between the two countries is expressed in enjoyment of the same soap operas, support for the same football teams, and queuing for the same products at Argos. But the closeness runs much deeper. Independence and the Troubles did not cut loose cultural ties that have existed for centuries. If anything, emigration strengthened them.
The English gave us democracy, a convoluted legal system, Georgian buildings, the trains and the drains. We share with them a language, a certain irreverence, enjoyment of levity, a tendency to swear and a dangerous affinity to alcohol.
If England and America are two countries divided by a common language, the English and the Irish seem to have more in common. Dublin was, and to some extent, remains a city of fickle Jackeens, who were prepared to boo the perpetrators of the 1916 Rising one week, and then hail them as heroes the next. We may see the same attitude to the English football team over the coming days.
The rebranding of Dublin as an Irish city after Independence was half-hearted, and the capital is still in some ways English in character.
The railway stations may have been renamed after the fallen men of 1916, but you will still find streets named after Queen Victoria (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Queen+Victoria), Trafalgar, and the Prince of Wales (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Prince+Charles). There is still a Royal Irish Academy (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Royal+Irish+Academy) and A Royal Dublin Society (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Royal+Dublin+Society).
The English names are not just a colonial legacy. They also pop up in new developments with names like Westminster Park and The Rectory.
Prof Dolan says: "There are many people who think that the idea of Englishness is in some way classy, in the way that the Americans think the French are classy.''
Of course not all those who decline to support the English football team can simply be labelled as ranting xenophobes. One of the most common sentiments that can be heard during this and other World Cups is something along the lines of: "I don't mind England, but we'll never hear the end of it in the media if they win.''
That may well be true -- during most World Cup matches involving England you can barely count the seconds before the commentator mentions 1966. But the same obsession will apply in the Irish media if Ireland ever win anything.
If she finally overcomes her reservations and comes to Ireland, Queen Elizabeth (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Queen+Elizabeth+II) -- who is revealingly referred to as "the queen'' in Irish conversation -- can expect a rapturous reception from a considerable body of people.
I was passing through the Dublin suburb of Glenageary when Prince Charles visited a few years ago; there was a large collection of admirers who greeted him as if he were a mature member of a once-popular boy band. Royal visitors to Ireland have usually been greeted by big crowds of fans.
Of course, there will also be plenty of detractors. Queen Victoria was surely not amused by a report that appeared in the Dublin Evening Mail, which had clearly been sabotaged by a nationalist type-setter: "A large crowd cheered as the royal party pissed over Carlisle Bridge.''
Dubliner Oscar Wilde (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Oscar+Wilde) probably summed up our ambivalent attitude to our neighbours.
On the one hand he could describe someone as "a typical Englishman, always dull and usually violent''. On the other hand, he was quite happy to live there and declare: "I don't desire to change anything in England except the weather.''
Source (http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/have-we-finally-learned-to-love-the-english-2217983.html)
No spastics here, so please, the Irish* lilt is more than welcome here.
*(No Norn Iron spastic talk allowed).
(http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/have-we-finally-learned-to-love-the-english-2217983.html)
Old Blighty is supposed to be our sworn enemy. And if it's England against North Korea (http://www.independent.ie/topics/North+Korea) in one of the next rounds, the same half-cut bowsies will discover a hitherto-hidden passion for the mysterious Asian tyranny. "Come on ye Kims!''
The casual English visitor, and indeed many Irish pubgoers, may be shocked by such naked displays of anti-Brit bigotry. But nobody should be deceived by this macho, saloon-bar posturing. It is only half the story.
For every loud-mouthed Anglophobe there are probably four Anglophiles, quietly nursing their pints, or at home cheering on Rooney and Gerrard. A few will probably even hum along to God Save The Queen.
In a poll running on the website boards.ie, respondents are being asked whether they like, hate or are completely indifferent to the British (in this case British can be read as English).
Although a lumpen core of people (9pc) express hatred for our nearest neighbours, they are dwarfed by the 47pc who say they like them.
In the quiet of the morning, and at the setting of the sun, we cannot conceal our soft spot for our neighbours.
Increasingly this fondness is expressed publicly, even in pubs. At last, Anglophiles can step gingerly out of the closet.
Professor Terry Dolan (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Terry+Dolan), of the English Department in UCD, will be supporting England tonight. Born in London (http://www.independent.ie/topics/London+%28England%29) of Cavan (http://www.independent.ie/topics/County+Cavan) parents, and educated at Oxford (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Oxford), the author of A Dictionary of Hiberno-English believes that anti-English sentiment has declined since the end of the Troubles. "The fact that the Queen is likely to visit here shows how the mood has changed,'' he said.
If sales of their football shirts in Ireland (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Ireland) are anything to go by, English people will be more prepared than ever to wear their colours during this World Cup (http://www.independent.ie/topics/FIFA+World+Cup). "Sales of the shirts are up 50pc in Ireland and are already almost sold out,'' says Jonathan Courtney (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Jonathan+Courtney) of the shirt-maker Umbro (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Umbro+International+Ltd.).
During previous World Cups there were many shops that simply refused to sell the shirts.
The atmosphere for English supporters may have become friendlier in most places, but that doesn't mean that it is plain sailing all the way.
Asked whether he would wear an England shirt in a pub, Dublin (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Dublin+%28Ireland%29)-based English journalist Maurice Newman (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Maurice+Newman) said: "That very much depends on the pub. Perhaps there has been a softening in attitudes among the middle classes, but there is still a traditional hatred of the English among some people. I have been called a 'f***ing English twat' in pubs, and I have had complete strangers come up to me to gloat if England lost a match.''
The Anglo-Irish relationship has always been an enigmatic one. It slips from your grasp as soon as you feel have a hold of it. When England last won the World Cup in 1966 there were some celebrations on the streets of Dublin, according to one journalist who remembers the day well. "Magnificent England!'' said the headline on the front page of the Sunday Independent on the following day.
The '70s and '80s strained the friendship to breaking point. The murder of innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday, internment, and IRA bombs in London and Birmingham (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Birmingham+%28England%29) helped to amplify resentments on either side.
Paddy Mulligan, former captain of the Irish football team, played for Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Queens+Park+Rangers+FC) at the height of the troubles.
"There was anti-Irish feeling in London when there were bombings. I remember after some of those incidents I didn't want to go out for days because I was Irish.''
Even then the bonds of friendship survived. In 1973, a year after the Welsh and the Scots had refused to play rugby internationals in Dublin because of perceived dangers, the English came to play at Lansdowne Road (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Lansdowne+Road) and were cheered to the rafters.
After his team lost, the English captain John Pullin (http://www.independent.ie/topics/John+Pullin) famously remarked at the post-match dinner with Corinthian grace: "We may not be any good, but at least we turn up.''
On a superficial level, the closeness between the two countries is expressed in enjoyment of the same soap operas, support for the same football teams, and queuing for the same products at Argos. But the closeness runs much deeper. Independence and the Troubles did not cut loose cultural ties that have existed for centuries. If anything, emigration strengthened them.
The English gave us democracy, a convoluted legal system, Georgian buildings, the trains and the drains. We share with them a language, a certain irreverence, enjoyment of levity, a tendency to swear and a dangerous affinity to alcohol.
If England and America are two countries divided by a common language, the English and the Irish seem to have more in common. Dublin was, and to some extent, remains a city of fickle Jackeens, who were prepared to boo the perpetrators of the 1916 Rising one week, and then hail them as heroes the next. We may see the same attitude to the English football team over the coming days.
The rebranding of Dublin as an Irish city after Independence was half-hearted, and the capital is still in some ways English in character.
The railway stations may have been renamed after the fallen men of 1916, but you will still find streets named after Queen Victoria (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Queen+Victoria), Trafalgar, and the Prince of Wales (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Prince+Charles). There is still a Royal Irish Academy (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Royal+Irish+Academy) and A Royal Dublin Society (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Royal+Dublin+Society).
The English names are not just a colonial legacy. They also pop up in new developments with names like Westminster Park and The Rectory.
Prof Dolan says: "There are many people who think that the idea of Englishness is in some way classy, in the way that the Americans think the French are classy.''
Of course not all those who decline to support the English football team can simply be labelled as ranting xenophobes. One of the most common sentiments that can be heard during this and other World Cups is something along the lines of: "I don't mind England, but we'll never hear the end of it in the media if they win.''
That may well be true -- during most World Cup matches involving England you can barely count the seconds before the commentator mentions 1966. But the same obsession will apply in the Irish media if Ireland ever win anything.
If she finally overcomes her reservations and comes to Ireland, Queen Elizabeth (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Queen+Elizabeth+II) -- who is revealingly referred to as "the queen'' in Irish conversation -- can expect a rapturous reception from a considerable body of people.
I was passing through the Dublin suburb of Glenageary when Prince Charles visited a few years ago; there was a large collection of admirers who greeted him as if he were a mature member of a once-popular boy band. Royal visitors to Ireland have usually been greeted by big crowds of fans.
Of course, there will also be plenty of detractors. Queen Victoria was surely not amused by a report that appeared in the Dublin Evening Mail, which had clearly been sabotaged by a nationalist type-setter: "A large crowd cheered as the royal party pissed over Carlisle Bridge.''
Dubliner Oscar Wilde (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Oscar+Wilde) probably summed up our ambivalent attitude to our neighbours.
On the one hand he could describe someone as "a typical Englishman, always dull and usually violent''. On the other hand, he was quite happy to live there and declare: "I don't desire to change anything in England except the weather.''
Source (http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/have-we-finally-learned-to-love-the-english-2217983.html)
No spastics here, so please, the Irish* lilt is more than welcome here.
*(No Norn Iron spastic talk allowed).
(http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/have-we-finally-learned-to-love-the-english-2217983.html)