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The Bad Aul' Days...

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profitius
Pot Hale
Pete330v2
Don Alfonso
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Post by Don Alfonso Tue 20 Sep 2016, 12:53 pm

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/exclusive-extract-from-donal-lenihans-autobiography-from-the-sash-to-the-fields-of-athenry-421566.html

It really is staggering how difficult things used to be. Such a unique, horrible, painful context.

For those of us that remember these days, although there are still rugby-specific issues and problems inherited from the Troubles, this kind of fear and tension seems a million miles away. Thankfully.

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Post by Guest Tue 20 Sep 2016, 1:23 pm

Very good read. Difficult and dark times, but the humour and the irony shines through - the Ireland squad singing the Sash in Dublin! Laugh

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Post by Pete330v2 Tue 20 Sep 2016, 2:02 pm

I vividly remember travelling to Dublin every year for an Ireland match or two (the highlight of which was always a McDonalds as there were none anywhere else) and wondering why my cousin and I couldn't bring back the nice green, white and gold flags that our Dad's had bought for us. My father was in the RUC at that time and it was considered risky for him to be travelling across the border for a rugby match. I've always joked that he and my uncle brought me and my cousin as human shields Smile

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Post by Pot Hale Tue 20 Sep 2016, 3:39 pm

Sounds like it might be an interesting read.

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Post by profitius Tue 20 Sep 2016, 3:43 pm

Pete330v2 wrote:I vividly remember travelling to Dublin every year for an Ireland match or two (the highlight of which was always a McDonalds as there were none anywhere else) and wondering why my cousin and I couldn't bring back the nice green, white and gold flags that our Dad's had bought for us. My father was in the RUC at that time and it was considered risky for him to be travelling across the border for a rugby match. I've always joked that he and my uncle brought me and my cousin as human shields Smile


The good aul days! Smile
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Post by Pot Hale Tue 20 Sep 2016, 6:01 pm

Pete330v2 wrote:I vividly remember travelling to Dublin every year for an Ireland match or two (the highlight of which was always a McDonalds as there were none anywhere else) and wondering why my cousin and I couldn't bring back the nice green, white and gold flags that our Dad's had bought for us. My father was in the RUC at that time and it was considered risky for him to be travelling across the border for a rugby match. I've always joked that he and my uncle brought me and my cousin as human shields Smile

It's green white and orange, ffs, how many times do we have to say this? Smile Mind you, I have always had a quiet chuckle at the orange bonfire night pics. I'm sure the Ivory Coast is mystified as to why their national flag is being hung upside down on a very large pile of wooden pallets.
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Post by doctor_grey Tue 20 Sep 2016, 11:22 pm

Compelling, real emotional stuff.  

Feck all, what do we do to each other?  For what?

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Post by Pete330v2 Wed 21 Sep 2016, 9:18 am

Pot Hale wrote:
Pete330v2 wrote:I vividly remember travelling to Dublin every year for an Ireland match or two (the highlight of which was always a McDonalds as there were none anywhere else) and wondering why my cousin and I couldn't bring back the nice green, white and gold flags that our Dad's had bought for us. My father was in the RUC at that time and it was considered risky for him to be travelling across the border for a rugby match. I've always joked that he and my uncle brought me and my cousin as human shields Smile

It's green white and orange, ffs, how many times do we have to say this? Smile   Mind you, I have always had a quiet chuckle at the orange bonfire night pics.  I'm sure the Ivory Coast is mystified as to why their national flag is being hung upside down on a very large pile of wooden pallets.

Sod of Hale, I say Gold, you say Orange but how do you explain the lovely bowl of sweet, juicy Golds I have on the kitchen table?

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Post by Notch Wed 21 Sep 2016, 9:44 am

Pete330v2 wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:
Pete330v2 wrote:I vividly remember travelling to Dublin every year for an Ireland match or two (the highlight of which was always a McDonalds as there were none anywhere else) and wondering why my cousin and I couldn't bring back the nice green, white and gold flags that our Dad's had bought for us. My father was in the RUC at that time and it was considered risky for him to be travelling across the border for a rugby match. I've always joked that he and my uncle brought me and my cousin as human shields Smile

It's green white and orange, ffs, how many times do we have to say this? Smile   Mind you, I have always had a quiet chuckle at the orange bonfire night pics.  I'm sure the Ivory Coast is mystified as to why their national flag is being hung upside down on a very large pile of wooden pallets.

Sod of Hale, I say Gold, you say Orange but how do you explain the lovely bowl of sweet, juicy Golds I have on the kitchen table?

laughing
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Post by Notch Wed 21 Sep 2016, 9:46 am

Irish Rugby was/is pretty special. There weren't many things that would have brought everyone on the island together as one in those days. It's beautiful and quite amazing that British Army soldiers and RUC officers could pull on the green shirt alongside avowed nationalists in the middle of a brutal civil conflict. A testament to the power of sport.
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Post by Pot Hale Thu 22 Sep 2016, 3:02 am

Pete330v2 wrote:
Pot Hale wrote:
Pete330v2 wrote:I vividly remember travelling to Dublin every year for an Ireland match or two (the highlight of which was always a McDonalds as there were none anywhere else) and wondering why my cousin and I couldn't bring back the nice green, white and gold flags that our Dad's had bought for us. My father was in the RUC at that time and it was considered risky for him to be travelling across the border for a rugby match. I've always joked that he and my uncle brought me and my cousin as human shields Smile

It's green white and orange, ffs, how many times do we have to say this? Smile   Mind you, I have always had a quiet chuckle at the orange bonfire night pics.  I'm sure the Ivory Coast is mystified as to why their national flag is being hung upside down on a very large pile of wooden pallets.

Sod of Hale, I say Gold, you say Orange but how do you explain the lovely bowl of sweet, juicy Golds I have on the kitchen table?

Exactly.   Although, my Belfast family tells me the same so I just ask them about the Gold Halls, Gold marches, and all the Goldmen in them, so eventually they buy me a pint to shut me up.  Works every time.  Smile
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Post by Irish Londoner Thu 22 Sep 2016, 8:27 am

Pot Hale wrote:Exactly.   Although, my Belfast family tells me the same so I just ask them about the Gold Halls, Gold marches, and all the Goldmen in them, so eventually they buy me a pint to shut me up.  Works every time.  Smile

Ah, so that explains the song my granny used to sing, "It was gold but it was beautiful...." Whistle

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Post by SecretFly Thu 22 Sep 2016, 11:20 am

Those idiots in Fort Knox Laugh - wait until someone tells them what they're guarding behind those bars.

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