Can you say that in English please Gearoid.

Don’t worry Trisha. The Irish was crud anyway. Keep him away from the Google translate somebody.

@Chris Kirk: Everyone is going to lose seats due to the reduction in total numbers to 90, but I don’t think he’s so low in the standings to be in danger.

I don’t see how Sinn Fein would lose votes, they come out of this and the ‘cash-for-ash’ scandal as the reasonable and principled party, the opposite of the DUP.

I remember that fear Scundered…when the Catholic killers were prowling the streets with their police escorts.

@Scundered: Yep, no surprise they were bombed at all.
The world is always a better place without the likes of Hitler, Hussain, the DUP etc etc….

@Fred Johnson: sky news doesn’t specifically relate to NI. and there’s quite a few people who only watch BBC NI for the main UK programmes. the vast majority of people who I know from the republic know absolutely nothing about the north. in terms of irish being taught, nearly everyone from the ROI who has asked me is surprised that irish is taught in the vast majority of catholic run schools

British tv and media have had uncontrolled access to the Republic for decades, it beggars belief how much they have been allowed to influence Irish people. It just shows what a sham Irish independence has really been and how little real effort has ever been made to effect any kind of revival of Irish culture. I’ve long held the belief that the teaching of Irish in school is purposely inept, that there was never been any goal to create a population fluent in the language, it’s been the same completely ineffective sh*t for decades and decades now, everyone can see it, yet nothing ever changes.

@TehJurolan: has

@gjpb: gjpb.. “nearly everyone from the ROI who has asked me is surprised that irish is taught in the vast majority of catholic run schools” …I think you are talking nonsense, that statement is condescending, arrogant and totally made up in your head ….I simply don’t believe it, you have made it up simply to make a post …. Lets not forget, the cheek of person who called me bigoted just because I left N.Ireland due to such opinions, left to get a normal life for my chidlren…the problem with people like gjpb, is that they actually know no other world other than N. Ire, and think that their opinions and mixed up beliefs are actually normal ..everyone else is wrong …and that belongs to both sides, or like is accusations we are the bigoted, or the stupid ones…ROI people don’t know Irish is taught in Catholic schools..what utter nonsense ..have a day off gjpb ..?

@CJ Stewart: …Irish people know more about N.IRE gjpb, than what you give them credit for…and it is for this reason, that many want nothing to do with it.. and why many would not entertain the though of a United Ireland..I certainly wouldn’t want it…. I would rather such attitudes and beliefs stay up North…

Fred, I’m from North Belfast and RTE 1&2, TG4 from what I remember have always been available here. Also all RTE radio stations, today FM and many more regional radio stations the further south you go.

All Broadcast from the mast at Divis mountain.

@CJ Stewart: your comments show why I called you bigoted and sectarian. you are every bit as bitter as the people you criticise. even though there are idiots on all sides, a lot of people in the north want to and are trying to move on. this is something you don’t seem to accept or want.

I have not lived in the north my entire life and have travelled quite a bit so please don’t make opinions about me.

a lot of peole in the ROI do not know that Irish is taught up north. my girlfriend is from mayo – she and her family were surprised to hear that I had learned Irish at school. if the subject ever comes up with any friends I have from the ROI, again they do be surprised that Irish is taught in the schools (although as Anne Marie pointed out, it’s not compulsory). you had the guy who Anne Marie replied to on this article who did not know that Irish was taught in schools up north.

@Ciaran Rice:

Are they getting it in East Belfast and in Antrim / North Down? I’m not so sure. Certainly didn’t have it in the hotels in Belfast, but the hotels had no problem supplying us with France 24 and RT.

Fred, they would get it. That mast services around half a million people. In regards to the hotels, they probably just have a simple free view box installed or a basic version of sky. If they had a basic tv aerial being used to broadcast tv to the hotel then they would get RTE etc as the mast being used would be divis mountain.

@gjpb: you are very quick to cast people as bigoted, just because they disagree with your opinion…and sectarian..??? ..that one beats me …I suggest you educate yourself first on the definitions of both terms before you decide to cast them at as a verbal weapon at anybody..you are simply making an idiot out of yourself otherwise.

The bottom line is simple…The DUP and it’s supportes are very quick, just as you are, to falsely accuse others of doing exactly what they do…attack being considered the best form of defense policy..like many people in N.Ire, and I put you in this category. They simply will not listen or accept reason or any other alternative view. That is why N.ire is in the isolated position it is in..thats why when even the majority , for example do not favor Brexit or any other issue… get it anyway. The only politcal party who supported Brexit was the DUP., so they give no consideration to defending the majority decision not to accept it….they are laughing at the rest of N.ire and giving them two bigoted fingers..simply because they dont listen , respect or reason with any other alternative view..

The Irish language is scorned upon with utter contempt, as is the likes GAA or Irish Traditional music, the latter even being called Ulster Scott’s ..The fundamental of DUP governace is at it’s root anti Catholic and anti all things Irish. They are voted in, time after time by the Unionist electorate as the leading unionist governing party which thus makes their supporters anti Catholic and anti all things Irish as well..that is the bottom line…and that is Northern Ireland, no matter how you try to disuse or hide it , or accuse others of being sectarian or bigoted simply because they do not accept it… N.Ire has been left behind, and many wish no more to do with it, including many in ROI, and like me care little for it..you on your own.

@Ciaran Rice: And cable TV packages in Northern Ireland? I doubt there was a mast anywhere supplying the hotel with France 24.

@gjpb: By the way gjpb…your girlfriends family in Mayo, if they actually exsist, do not represent ‘a lot of people in the republic’…..

@CJ Stewart: I have no time for any of the DUP’s beliefs and you don’t have to tell me what they think of all things Irish.

yes, I think you are an extremely bitter person. you can tell by the tone of your comments. you don’t seem to accept that the majority of people in the north want to move on. I understand what you went through when you lived in Belfast but a lot of other people went through the same things and they want to move on and aren’t ranting like you are.

yes, there are still sectarian people on both sides. thankfully, the numbers are falling. however, it will prob take another generation for the worst of it to go unfort.

@CJ Stewart: the vast majority of people who I know in the ROI (from various counties) do not know about irish being taught in schools up north so I would say it’s representative of the entire population.

@gjpb: ..there ya go folks ..proof ….you are full of S gjpb

@CJ Stewart: how exactly?

@gjpb: ‘the vast majority of people who I know in the ROI (from various counties) do not know about Irish being taught in schools up north’ then tell us..how many is that vast majority ? give us a number….because the way I see it, you mustn’t know very many people in ROI !

@CJ Stewart: I know a lot and as I said its the vast majority. it’s the same with any of my friends from the north who live/work in the republic. surely you’ve had it yourself considering you left Belfast?

@gjpb: Funny how this post got 6 likes at the time of my writing, and your post below got exactly 6 likes as well…funny also as I said before, your profile is hidden, nobody else has hidden there’s…funny how you make a comment and back it up simply with ‘I know a man’ and then deliver your nonsensical rubbish as if it’s true …..

It all looks to me like a troll working under different aliases.., a claim that you have not denied so far, but no doubt you probably will..”I know a man who will tell you I’m not”….that’s really sad gjpb…but you obviously underestimate peoples intelligence.

N.Ire is a bigoted place full of hatred…now I don’t know a man that can tell you that, I know a lot of men, women and even children can tell you that..in fact anybody that know’s N.Ire across the world will tell you that..so get off your high horse of hypocrisy, stop trolling, and get a life…your fooling nobody !

@CJ Stewart: loads of people hide their profiles on here. why would I want bigoted Neanderthals like you to know my identity?

I am certainly not a troll. the comments I post are forward thinking, balanced and actually reflect what people think. yours on the other hand…..

it seems to me that you are the troll – you are online foaming at the mouth a la trump posting comments in the middle of the night.

@CJ Stewart: I am certainly not an ulster unionist. I want you to tell me how there is still employment discrimination? any of my friends who are catholics are doing very well for themselves – becoming partners in accountancy, solicitors firms, running their own businesses, etc. you look at some of the top barristers in the north and at least 50% are catholic. years ago, there was def discrimination. if it is happening now, it’s on a very small scale.

@gjpb:If you are not a unionist , then i dont know what or who you are…you seemed well disguised on-line anyway ? …..what you do seem to be doing is defending ulster, it’s politics and it’s mindset, regardless of what is presented to you ..if you feel that strongly why hide yourself…? do i smell a unionist troll…… Sniff Sniff ? ….If N.Ire is such an agreeable place to live, why is it in the position it’s in today ? ….emph !

In terms of employment, go into the engineering workshops and firms across Ulster and count the Catholics, high tech jobs differ, mainly because Catholics educated themselves and are qualified for such whilst protestants stuck with the status quo ..and paid a heavy price…the likes of Bombardier and small firm firms still struggle to meet requirements set out in legislation …legislation that took years of hard fighting to get…But discrimination takes many forms and avenues, and the DUP are well used to them all..this Irish language funding is simply another good example.

…but gjpb, its a waste of time discussing this with people like you..because in your arrogance you listen to no one, you seem to have a hidden agenda…and when you come off with nonsense, about ROI people not knowing Irish is taught in Northern Schools, then all one can do is laugh at your arrogance and stupidity ..Sorry..but thats the truth !

@CJ Stewart: I am not defending anyone. what I am speaking out against is bigoted and sectarian people like you. the majority of people in the north want to move on but you don’t want that or accept that (as you would have nothing to moan about).

also, please educate yourself on basic geography as NI is not Ulster.

you say catholics have the majority of jobs in the tech sector but are under-represented in bombardier. what’s your point here? I actually know someone in a senior position in bombardier who is a nationalist. catholics now have the same employment opportunities as unionists. there may still be some small scale discrimination unfort but it’s small scale and as you said there is legislation to protect against it. yes, the DUP will try to find other ways to discriminate. however, we are talking about employment discrimination so the Gaeltacht funding and boat renaming are separate.

go to your new neighbours/workmates and ask them did they know that Irish was taught in schools in the North and I bet you any money they will be surprised.

I do of course listen to other people. however, I cannot tolerate people like you who come onto these forums spouting rubbish and cannot take it when they are challenged.

@gjpb: CHALLENGED ? …You are talking nonsense.. you know a majority of people in ROI ? you know a man in Bombardier….? you know this , that and the other ?..sounds to me you don’t know very mush.. I know a man in Bermuda likes parrots, that doesn’t make all of Bermuda parrot lovers …also , trust me, we hardly need someone condesending *”?”* like you pointing out to us all that Ulster is not Northern Ireland, moreover we are also not bigots simply because we take exception to your foolish comments.

Answer my comment, why do you hide your profile on line, nobody else has done so here ?

@CJ Stewart: I know plenty of things that challenge your absurd comments.

you cannot seem to accept that people in the north want to move on. why is that?

if you don’t want people correcting your comments, then why make false comments in the first place?

and I will answer you again – lots of people do not show their identity on this – ever heard of online security and protecting your identity?????? why would I give an eejit like you access to my life? your own profile hardly gives much away.

“We don’t like funding Irish here” – who is “we”?