Lets be clear about this - I do not support the IRA and have no time for it.
I personally dont think Gaelic clubs should be named after contentious-divisive figures
however I could go on adnaseum about similarly named places, building and clubs related to England and the British that people the world over would have serious reservations about. I'm not trying to bash English-British culture I'm merely trying to show the other side of the coin.

I've never wore a poppy but have absolutely no problem with them and think this decision is ridiculous. Sure a minority of people may have been politicized them but I see the poppy for what it is - a remembrance of the horror of war and the sacrifices many people took to fight tyranny.

I'm also a keen GAA player and train a number of youth teams in my town. It provides a fantastic sporting displicine and extended family to many people. I have no idea how the GAA has anything to do with the IRA and I find youre comment to be the typical sectarian lazy reaction to anything vaguely Irish that unfortunately persists in Unionist-Loyalist circles.

Undoubtedly you'll come back with comment regarding the naming of clubs etc.. Well heres the thing - many from my community have been harassed and killed by members of the crown security forces (like wise on you're own side by republicans)- yet I comfortably walk through dozens of streets named after Queen and country, watch games played in Windsor Park, see the statue of Carson dominating Stormont need i go on... We are 20 years from this country moving forward its pathetic.

The sheer hypocrisy of this group is unbelievable. Lets be clear I believe the people it represents are clearly victims of the troubles - no question there. Were all the other people who will attend suffer the same scrutiny or indignity? I mean didn't the DUP encourage people onto the streets for violence last year, don't members of their party stand should to shoulder with loyalist paramilitaries in the past - e.g. the mass murderer Billy Wright and they continue to do so in the present. Didn't they resist chance after chance to bring the troubles to a close early by resisting all efforts of compromise with their Never, Never, Never attitude.
I believe the underlying tone here is fully representative of a very vocal proportion (I wouldn't care to guess what percentage) of the Unionist population here who seem to think the troubles were all the IRA's fault. They remain in complete denial of the fact that they created and maintained the unjust, undemocratic conditions that the IRA thrived in. They were also the first terrorists to import guns into Northern Ireland. Don't they even know their own history! They seem only to happy to point out the problems in other peoples histories while obviously ignoring their own.
While this type of attitude persists and isn't properly challenged by the media (this should be our politicians job but lets be fair that's never going to happen) then we will be going round in the same circles for the next 20 years.

Firstly this college is for all the Emergency Services not just the PSNI.
I'd argue youre reason for not wanting the college sited near Cookstown is exactly why it should be situated there - it adds to the normalization of the area. We need more people from the catholic community to start trusting and supporting the police. What better way that to have a center of excellence on their door step.

As for "an isolated area that is fast becoming a hotbed of dissident activity" - have you any evidence to support this? If there is wouldn't the police be better of arresting these people. Oh wait - you don't have this evidence. In fact there is more evidence to suggest that places in or near Belfast , Larne etc.. are infinitely more dangerous after all haven't loyalist paramilitaries been given free reign to run amok.

Northern Ireland is a relatively small place yet everything seems to be Belfast centric - lets be honest about it basically anywhere west of the Bann has been under invested in for decades. Mid-Ulster is exactly what it says the middle of ulster - all these arguments are just attempts to prize any investment away from it.

I not sure if youre being sarcastic or serious here? I agree the woman's drunken condition is entirely her own fault and I have little sympathy for her but to defend these police officers is ridiculous.
They are at best complete idiots for not carrying her a further 5 or 6 yards onto the pavement and securing here 'safety' or at worst criminally negligent in not carrying out their duty properly.

I believe there are parts of the Good Friday that are far from perfect but what do people want here? Youre not happy with it and theres parts I'm not happy with but until someone comes up with a sound alternative its the best we have.

Youre a 70 year old protestant women - that means you lived through the troubles - you also lived through many decades where Catholics were unequivocally persecuted politically, financially and physically by Unionist dominance. Did Unionists think this could continue - the fact is they created the circumstances for armed resistance. Lets be clear here I like many Catholics have no time for the IRA - however its easy to understand why so many people did.

At the end of any conflict, war or terrorist campaign (what ever suits you) both sides, irrespective of how much they despise one another have to sit down and find some compromise. All governments are doing it or have done it in countries and battlefields all over the world. Its distasteful that so many criminals are going to get off - my own uncle was shot 6 times and no one ever convicted of it and no one probably ever will. If we want these people convicted then Id say what about all those that abused power to keep Unionist dominance i the past - many are old but probably still alive this would include people from all walks of life surly these are equally culpable?

Its disappointing that so many people are looking to the past - its rotten there and neither side holds any moral high ground. Id rather look to the future and hope that something good comes from it.

Where do I start? In Gaelic football the ultimate prize is the Sam Maguire cup he was a protestant. Many protestant's were integral to the founding of the organization - just look up its history.
The Tricolore is also flown at matches - the Orange representing the orange tradition.
As for the AOH I don't really know anything about them.

Obviously you have never attended a the St Patricks parade in NY because there are hundreds of drunk people and drinking in the streets when I attended. It was tolerated but no one was getting out of hand.

BARBARA - whats you're alternative?
I believe there are lots of issues with the current state of play (mostly we need an opposition) however if you have a valid alternative I'd like to hear it. Theres no point in saying get rid of it if you cant offer some constructive alternative - perhaps you'd like a return to the good old days i.e. bombs, murder, terrorists, state sponsored murder, discrimination, unionist dominance etc..

I direct you to the excellent post below to clarify unequivocally that it was in the public domain. Please note I'm not arguing whether it was right or wrong here I'm merely stating that the DUP are lying or incompetent. Can they please get on with some proper governance - i.e. economic issues, health care etc.. rather than creating crisis's.