Perhaps the English attitude towards the Irish has changed alot in the last 30 years. I know my dad got alot of hassle in Birmingham because he was Irish after the bombing in 1974.
I have an English grandfather who refuses to use the Irish names of two of my children...preferring to call one Billy and the other Sarah.
Some prejudices never go away. But I suppose younger generations might be more accepting. Anyway, it looks like all they've done is move there allegiance of dislike over to the Scottish and Welsh. At least according to those comments.
UI I have no problem with you starting to love the English as these days they are lovery people and I count many English among my Friends. However in previous articles you are giving out about revionists changing history to suit their argumnet and here you seems to be forgetting about England and wehat they did in the past not only to Ireland but also countries like Scotland, India, Pakistan the list could go on.
Kate Beckinsale...
UI,
I feel justified having mentioned Gerald Morgan's very odd letter in passing a couple of weeks ago on this very blog! Damn that Old Etonian-Scottish Axis of Evil!
Personally I like the English...but I wouldn't eat a whole one.
MacDara
"However in previous articles you are giving out about revionists changing history to suit their argumnet and here you seems to be forgetting about England and wehat they did in the past not only to Ireland but also countries like Scotland, India, Pakistan the list could go on."
Well I'm not attempting to rewrite history. (Some might argue Dr Morgan is but that's another matter) I'm just trying to look at England in the 21st century.
Any mistakes they may have made in the past shouldn't be held against modern day England which is diverse and far different than the one of old.
Its part of No. 1 but any country that gave us the comic genius of Fawlty Towers can't be all bad!
--Any mistakes they may have made in the past shouldn't be held against modern day England which is diverse and far different than the one of old--
Correct. One of the " big secrets " to many is that the Irish and English get along quite famously most of the time.
UI,
I've tagged you for a political meme.
MacDara; not me guv. and mostly not my forebears either. The Normans came in, took over, and became the aristocracy. When they got bored of treating my ancestors like dirt, they moved onto the Welsh, then the Scots, then the Irish.
Doesn't mean us English actually wanted it to happen, we were mostly under their control anyway. Now that the lunacy of the 'protestant ascendancy' has lost all credibility outside the lunatic fringe, I pretty much agree with the sentiments of the post. Disagree vehemently with what the CEP is for, but that's a different issue...
Ah, bless you. Thanks for that. from Dee, an English lass with Irish relis
A certain yorkshire man in Halifax will be foaming at the mouth if he reads this artucke. Harmony bewteen the English and Irish would be anathema to him. :D
My bad, didn't realise I screw up the spelling of article :D
Bill,
You may have a point there. 
I'm English and as such have had to take the blame for the misdemeanors (present and past) of other countries as well as those perpetrated by politicians in my country's name.
But therein lies the problem with being English, revealed by some of the posters here, who evidently either never read the article, or have allowed their own anti-English sentiments affect what they wrote.
The article plainly said, "Above all, do not confuse the English with the British."
Scots, Irish and Welsh enjoyed the benefits of Empire, but now deflect the blame and guilt on the English.
There were Irish slavers as well as English ones. The Scots probably invented slavery, like they did everything else.
The internal strife in these islands was not all the fault of the English. Flodden field lies in England, don't forget.
The French caused almost as much wrangle as the Scots did.
Gerry Adams goes to the USA to blame the English for Ireland's woes, yet David Trimble attempts to get them on his side by talking about the "Scotch Irish".
When it comes to Northern Ireland, most English people, I know, believe it is a matter for the people there. I personally do not think it is my business to say whether Northern Ireland should be independent or unite with Eire.
I do not even have a say in whether it should leave the UK. The English are never asked....about anything.
If we are being a bit "Scotophobic" lately, it may be in response to the constant battering we are receiving at the hands of Scottish Ministers with no mandate in England.
This would not be a problem without devolution as the UK's Labour Government would legislate for Scotland too.
At the moment Scotland is having its cake while eating England's.
Out of all the countries comprising the UK, Scotland undoubtedly benefitted the most from being in it.
Yet, do a web search for "Act of Union 1707" and read the surly anti-English comments.
Some posters here mention the re-writing of history. Well the Scots are past masters.
The real history of these islands is the oppression of those without, by those with. The rich dominating the poor and less well off. This is not a purely English characteristic. It is a human one.
I once worked in a famous English horseracing town and knew many Irish people there (a good many with English accents).
I have never been to Ireland, but going there is a promise I've made myself, and one I intend to keep.
I fancy doing the Kerry ring in a gypsy caravan being pulled pub to pub by a stalwart pony with a great deal more intelligence than I possess 
I don't know how things will pan out between England and Scotland. Not very well I suspect.
I do think it is time for the English and Irish to let bygones be bygones however, and be at ease with each other.
Like Mr Gash I have never been to Ireland, and like him too, I will go there one day, to visit Kilkenny, the town in which my maternal grandfather had such an unpleasant childhood that he changed his name, lied about his age and, at fifteen, joined the Dublin Fusiliers, a regiment originally formed by The East India Company. He was later proudly to number himself amongst the Old Contemptibles and felt himself British but I do not; I am English and had the Irish not treated my grandfather as an outcast for the sin of illegitimacy I should not now exist.
I have not done as well as I would in life, should I blame all the people of Ireland for my travails? I am here, after all, because of Irish cruelty.
Very much enjoy your site and the posts you provide. May I point out something to add to the "past mistakes" by which some courteously refer?
At the zenith of the Empire 60% of Imperial troops were Irish. Like Scotland , it suited them when they could command armies (Wellington gave his commands at Waterloo in Irish) or govern colonies, but once it fell or Independence was achieved, sides were quickly changed.
I speak as one who spent 5 years both sides of the border in the peace and reconciliation business.
"or govern colonies, but once it fell or Independence was achieved, sides were quickly changed."
Really? When did that happen?
"(Wellington gave his commands at Waterloo in Irish)"
I didn't know this, Keir. Any idea which of his subordinates were Irish speakers (you know, the people he was giving the commands to)?
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