View Full Version : Ireland Football Team in the UK Media
Has anyone noticed the way the British presenters/television treat the Irish football team? Ireland is no longer a part of the UK for god sake. So why do football presenters always wish the Irish luck and hope they qualify along with Scotland, England and Wales? I still remember the joy and sadness in the faces of our presenters when Ireland made decent progession in Japan.
Do the Irish media give the English such coverage or wish us luck?
:)
Originally posted by lgu
Has anyone noticed the way the British presenters/television treat the Irish football team? Ireland is no longer a part of the UK for god sake. So why do football presenters always wish the Irish luck and hope they qualify along with Scotland, England and Wales? I still remember the joy and sadness in the faces of our presenters when Ireland made decent progession in Japan.
Do the Irish media give the English such coverage or wish us luck?
:)
To be expected considering they sell their product (i.e. the television programmes and stations) to people in this country.
Originally posted by spider
To be expected considering they sell their product (i.e. the television programmes and stations) to people in this country.
How much coverage do the English get in Dublin? :)
pompeyfan
09-11-2003, 20:02
I think the fact the Ireland team is made up of players in the English league has a lot to do with it as well.
Pisces Iscariot
09-11-2003, 20:03
Is it suprisiing that the British media want Ireland to do well considering the large Irish communinty here (i.e. part of their audience) and the fact that (nearly) all of the players are based here?
The players playing in Britain definitely has an impact but they do get a surprising amount of coverage in the British media given that the Republic of Ireland is as much to do with the United Kingdom as Holland or Denmark.
I can understand Sky Sports showing their international matches as Sky Digital is available in the Republic of Ireland. They get an amazing level of support from some Scottish people aswell which has always confused me.
Originally posted by JCL
They get an amazing level of support from some Scottish people aswell which has always confused me.
Has it not occured to you that a lot of Irish people live in Scotland as well as a lot of Scottish people with Irish parents/grandparents.
Originally posted by lgu
How much coverage do the English get in Dublin? :)
Plenty and certainly more than Scotland, NI (ya forgot about them, yep they have a team too;)) and Wales do.
But its not really a comparable situation. There are no dedicated sports channels and no dedicated soccer shows (such as Football Focus, On the Ball etc) here. If England are involved in any matches there will, more often than not, be reports from training sessions and matches etc on news programmes. In fact, I'd say more time dedicated on a national news bulletin to English on RTE than a BBC or ITN news bulletin would to Ireland (which is rarely more than a brief mention).
When Euro 2004 comes around the English squad, as well as Scottish and Welsh hopefully, will get a hell of a lot more coverage than any other nations involved.
Originally posted by jayok
Has it not occured to you that a lot of Irish people live in Scotland as well as a lot of Scottish people with Irish parents/grandparents.
That will be true of some. Others have no link though. Just confused I guess. I have some mates who are Celtic supporters and are happy to fly Ireland's flag and wear Ireland tops despite having no family connection at all. :nuts:
Pisces Iscariot
09-11-2003, 20:24
Originally posted by JCL
That will be true of some. Others have no link though. Just confused I guess. I have some mates who are Celtic supporters and are happy to fly Ireland's flag and wear Ireland tops despite having no family connection at all. :nuts:
Well that's down to the clubs connection with the Irish.
Well I don't see Dundee United supporters flying the Ireland flag.
It's a problem with some numpties who support either Rangers or Celtic. Some seem to be confused about what country they live in/were born in/or their team plays in.
I take it you agree with Bertie Vogts regarding OF fans. Why is somebody a numptie if they chose to support another country as well?
Why would you support a country that you have no 'blood connection' with? :confused:
Decent answers on a postcard please to the usual address.
I don't expect you to agree with me on this because you are a member of a support of which the vast majority fly a flag of a foreign country.
Anyway, I'll go back to lurking. Forgotten why I stopped posting here. ;)
Originally posted by JCL
Why would you support a country that you have no 'blood connection' with? :confused:
Decent answers on a postcard please to the usual address.
I don't expect you to agree with me on this because you are a member of a support of which the vast majority fly a flag of a foreign country.
Anyway, I'll go back to lurking. Forgotten why I stopped posting here. ;)
Anyone can support who they like
I am a member of a support who recognise the founding fathers of our club.
I'll await a decent answer.
As I said above I don't see Dundee United supporters flying the flag of their 'founding fathers'. You sure it's not a campaign to join the Irish league?? :D ;)
Originally posted by JCL
I'll await a decent answer.
As I said above I don't see Dundee United supporters flying the flag of their 'founding fathers'. You sure it's not a campaign to join the Irish league?? :D ;)
If you choose to ignore a decent answer, that is your perogative.
The Irish League might give Celtic more competition :D
Originally posted by JCL
The players playing in Britain definitely has an impact but they do get a surprising amount of coverage in the British media given that the Republic of Ireland is as much to do with the United Kingdom as Holland or Denmark.
That's just not true! Think about it.
I can understand Sky Sports showing their international matches as Sky Digital is available in the Republic of Ireland. They get an amazing level of support from some Scottish people aswell which has always confused me.
British media's coverage is not really suprising considering that all British papers and TV stations are sold over here, amongst other reasons.
Hardly suprising you're not impressed by British media covering the Irish team, considering the football club you follow though, is it? ;):D
waddell28
09-11-2003, 20:56
You're right, people have the choice.
It just disappoints me that visitors to Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, will see more Irish and English tops than Scottish ones. It's got nothing to do with football.
It's a shame when you think of the great OF players who've turned out for Scotland...Kenny Dalglish, John Greig, Billy McNeil, Jim Baxter, Danny McGrain, Davie Cooper, Roy Aitken, Richard Gough, Paul McStay, Sandy Jardine...Maurice Johnston:nuts:..etc.
It's also interesting that some people in Ireland are not too keen on some of the ''baggage'' Celtic fans bring to their games e.g. the booing of Rangers-connected players. Think this has been brought to UEFA attention too.
TBH, I don't see many Ireland or England tops on my travels through Glasgow and Scotland. I see a lot of people wearing Celtic & Rangers tops on non-footballing days (which I find strange but each to their own). I have spotted a few GAA tops but I suspect they are actually from the county or visiting (I, myself, am the proud owner of a royal blue Dublin GAA top!!).
As for the booing, this is called rivalry (misplaced at an international game?) and not sectarianism or racism as was reported to UEFA (who incidentally did not investigate the death threats to Neil Lennon when he played for Northern Ireland).
Pisces Iscariot
09-11-2003, 21:35
Originally posted by jayok
(I, myself, am the proud owner of a royal blue Dublin GAA top!!)
:gag:
horseflesh
09-11-2003, 23:02
Originally posted by JCL
I have some mates who are Celtic supporters and are happy to fly Ireland's flag and wear Ireland tops despite having no family connection at all. :nuts:
I think that's pathetic. The reverse happens as well by the way; morons at Ireland matches wearing Celtic jerseys. Now what is that all about???? :cuckoo:
Oh and then they try to find Rangers players (or even sadder, ex-Rangers players) to boo. How grown up and progressive of them.
BlueDwarf
10-11-2003, 00:06
It is odd.
On the news it will be England first, then Wales, Scotland, (or Scotland, Wales - depending on who is doing better) then Rep Ire, then a "oh, by the way, N Ire lost again".
As an Englishman I couldn't give a hoot how other British nations do, but I do wonder why the British media cover a foreign nation.
Afterall, Rep Ire never makes the news otherwise (unless it's about the IRA).
horseflesh
10-11-2003, 00:20
Originally posted by BlueDwarf
Afterall, Rep Ire never makes the news otherwise (unless it's about the IRA).
charming........
gravesend46
10-11-2003, 06:15
Originally posted by BlueDwarf
Afterall, Rep Ire never makes the news otherwise (unless it's about the IRA).
When did you last watch the news? 1974...?
Originally posted by horseflesh
I think that's pathetic.
Nearly as pathethic as Irish people walking around Dublin with English football team tops on when there is no link with the team?
Originally posted by horseflesh
charming........
If you put Northern Ireland instead of the IRA, it is an accurate reflection on the status of the Republic of Ireland in the British news media.
horseflesh
10-11-2003, 12:29
Originally posted by jayok
Nearly as pathethic as Irish people walking around Dublin with English football team tops on when there is no link with the team?
Probably more so.....:nuts:
Dan Druff
10-11-2003, 12:42
Yep, unlike other European countries is the historical linkage (after all Republic of Ireland was part of UK until 1922) and the fact that we receive all your TV and a lot of out newspapers are English with a few mofications..(The IRISH Sun, The IRISH Mirror) all about the Royal Family. One thing I do take exception to is the use of the word 'mainland', as in "He left his hotel in Belfast and joined up with the rest of the team on the mainland".
Citysmith
10-11-2003, 14:11
Originally posted by JCL
Why would you support a country that you have no 'blood connection' with? :confused:
Decent answers on a postcard please to the usual address.
I don't expect you to agree with me on this because you are a member of a support of which the vast majority fly a flag of a foreign country.
Anyway, I'll go back to lurking. Forgotten why I stopped posting here. ;) The same way people support a club from a different town they have no 'Blood connection' with :eek:
Euripedes
11-11-2003, 01:32
Originally posted by Citysmith
The same way people support a club from a different town they have no 'Blood connection' with :eek:
I wonder who you could be on about ???
;)
Originally posted by Euripedes
I wonder who you could be on about ???
;)
i suspect he's back on the city fanbase urban myth again
Euripedes
11-11-2003, 05:01
Originally posted by JonMills
i suspect he's back on the city fanbase urban myth again
What urban myth is that then ?
Originally posted by jayok
Nearly as pathethic as Irish people walking around Dublin with English football team tops on when there is no link with the team?
If you mean international tops...then yes.
I personally could not support another country other than England, otherwise you are throwing away your identity.
England - and thats it. :thumbs:
Originally posted by Euripedes
What urban myth is that then ?
That all City fans were born inside Maine Road, and live within 20 seconds walk of the ground. :lol: Don't know what they claim now with the new ground:confused:
andybhoy
11-11-2003, 09:45
Originally posted by JCL
That will be true of some. Others have no link though. Just confused I guess. I have some mates who are Celtic supporters and are happy to fly Ireland's flag and wear Ireland tops despite having no family connection at all. :nuts:
The majority of Catholics in Scotland are there because someone in their family in the past came over from Ireland. The majority of Celtic fans are Catholic. It makes sense that a high number would have an affinity for Ireland. It also makes sense that some would have little affinity with Scotland (given that Catholicism was at one time illegal in Scotland (well actually the whole uk) and the whole reason so many came over from Ireland was because the English sent the Scots over to Ireland to take their land and stop them complaining through foul means).
Personally I have little affinity with Ireland, and some with Scotland (you can't live somewhere for so long without feeling something) but I can't find any reason to feel pride about nationality, or even historical nationality. Just get on with life and enjoy it.
gravesend46
11-11-2003, 11:16
Originally posted by madstu
I personally could not support another country other than England, otherwise you are throwing away your identity.
England - and thats it. :thumbs:
What if you're a bit of a mongrel like me?! Irish parents, two Scottish grandparents, no English blood but have lived all my life in SE England.
I cheer for Ireland, England and Scotland. And have ben known to own all three football tops. A Lions rugby jersey usually covers all bases...
andybhoy
11-11-2003, 12:26
I think nationality is a little more complicated, as gravesend has shown. (I am a mongrel in a similar way).
If you were to go live in Japan for a while, and have a kid with a fellow westerner - they'd be Japanese I guess, but you'd have trouble convincing anyone.
back on topic - is the Irish media coverage usually positive or negative about England? I get the impression they're not too popular.
horseflesh
11-11-2003, 12:54
Originally posted by andybhoy
back on topic - is the Irish media coverage usually positive or negative about England? I get the impression they're not too popular.
Generally positive, but the general pleb on the street will normally jump for joy when England (inevitably) get knocked out of World Cup/Euro Championship. I admit I have a little chuckle myself but only because of the arrogance in the way England are always built up as world beaters, only to be found out as a second-rate European football nation.....:wave:
andybhoy
11-11-2003, 13:12
Originally posted by horseflesh
Generally positive, but the general pleb on the street will normally jump for joy when England (inevitably) get knocked out of World Cup/Euro Championship. I admit I have a little chuckle myself but only because of the arrogance in the way England are always built up as world beaters, only to be found out as a second-rate European football nation.....:wave:
LOL! I wondered because I was always told as a child that the irish would always give the UK no points at the Eurovision song contest ;-)
gravesend46
11-11-2003, 15:53
The UK media's very picky as to who it sees as 'Irish' or when they're deemed 'British'. Alex Higgins was always an 'alcoholic Irish snooker player', but when Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize for Literature he was suddenly a 'British poet'.
Even the NME did it the other week, calling The Frank & Walters 'raving Irish loons' but claiming The Thrills were part of another 'British' invasion of the USA.
At least the Irish media says everyone's Irish... even Andy Townsend and Jason McAteer!! :lol:
andybhoy
11-11-2003, 16:10
I think it's more of an English problem. When a Scottish club/player does well, they're British, when they do badly, they're Scottish. You will far less likely hear a Scot calling an English person "british" to claim the credit for something they've done. The only nation I can think of that does this even more is the US.
Originally posted by andybhoy
I think it's more of an English problem. When a Scottish club/player does well, they're British, when they do badly, they're Scottish. You will far less likely hear a Scot calling an English person "british" to claim the credit for something they've done. The only nation I can think of that does this even more is the US.
I experienced a similar thing moving to Wales - most Welsh people (i have encountered) say they are Welsh not British, I used to say I was British, but now I definately say I am English, and as far as I am concerned, England, Wales, Scotland, N.Ireland are completly different countries, and I like to see their sports teams fail and for England to win.
I think the confusion comes from the Olympics (e.g. Colin Jackson). I personally have no desire to see any GB team and would never be able to support such a team as much as an English team .
bungle1979
11-11-2003, 18:52
Originally posted by gravesend46
The UK media's very picky as to who it sees as 'Irish' or when they're deemed 'British'. Alex Higgins was always an 'alcoholic Irish snooker player', but when Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize for Literature he was suddenly a 'British poet'.
That's the English media for you. I did a whole essay on how black sportsmen would always be British or English when they succeeded, but if they failed they would always refer to their West Indian heritage.
andybhoy
11-11-2003, 21:21
Originally posted by bungle1979
That's the English media for you. I did a whole essay on how black sportsmen would always be British or English when they succeeded, but if they failed they would always refer to their West Indian heritage.
I've never noticed that - could you give me a couple of examples please? (I would presume it has been more prevalent in sports I don't watch - as I only watch football). I can understand the uk/Scottish/English one (actually that reminds me, when an Englishman does something good, he's English, but when he does something bad, he's British - "heysel" being one such incident) but I can't see how they could refer to someone as West Indian without seriously choking on it.
Although I CAN understand why someone of West Indian heritage may feel they're West Indian above being British).
Anything good to come out of Nothern Ireland will be classed as British.
The media don't class the terrorists as British terrorists, they are always Irish even the ones that want to be British :confused:
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