Sinn Fein lord mayor at Belfast Armistice Day ceremony

GlynD

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24898648

I think this was a marvelous gesture by M!irtin Ó Muilleoir. I've noticed him on several occasions now making attempts like this to recognise unionist culture and I honestly think he's showing the rest of us the way forward.

I don't agree with his politics, I don't like Sinn Fein, mostly because it's run by ex-terrorists, but I'm very pleased to see him, and them, embracing the politics of peace.

More of it I say, from all sides.

Cotta

I actually spoke to a teacher at an integrated primary school who is teaching her class today about Remembrance Day and the significance of poppies - maturity at last.

steveymp

Remembrance Day is nothing to do with Unionist culture as previously stated. However it is good to see all sides take part in this very short and worthy act of remembrance, as Lord Mayor of Belfast he should be representing the city and did so with grace.

emmett123

Just waiting now for a Unionist mayor to lay a wreath of lillies to the men who died fighting for Ireland's freedom.

BigAl94

Progress indeed. Fair play to Ó Muilleoir for having the courage to represent all the citizens of Belfast. It's acts like this that are the building bocks of the future.

The nationalist general dislike of Remembrance Day is somewhat explained on this site http://markhumphrys.com/sfira.nazis.html

Golden_Anemone

Did the council allow the laying of a UVF wreath this year? Until it stops that the entire ceremony and Belfast cenotaph is tainted for me.

Oh and I come from a nationalist background but a close relative fought in the RAF in WW2 so I am supportive of both Remembrance day and the Royal British Legion.

Cotta

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

Did the council allow the laying of a UVF wreath this year? Until it stops that the entire ceremony and Belfast cenotaph is tainted for me.

Oh and I come from a nationalist background but a close relative fought in the RAF in WW2 so I am supportive of both Remembrance day and the Royal British Legion.

That was for the UVF members killed at the Somme.

dmxdave

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

Did the council allow the laying of a UVF wreath this year? Until it stops that the entire ceremony and Belfast cenotaph is tainted for me.

Oh and I come from a nationalist background but a close relative fought in the RAF in WW2 so I am supportive of both Remembrance day and the Royal British Legion.

I would have been of the same opinion myself, and from the same background. A visit to The Somme a few years ago opened my eyes.

Many UVF members enlisted with the British Army's 36th (Ulster) Division and went to fight on the Western Front.

Golden_Anemone

I am well aware of the fact that some UVF members joined the 16th Ulster Division and fought in 1916.

I am also aware of the fact that the UVF today is an illegal, proscribed organisation and for me and the majority of my protestant work colleagues that makes it disgraceful that Belfast City Council allows such a wreath to be laid at the cenotaph.

Remember those volunteers with a 16th Ulster Division wreath, not one that makes a political statement today. Simple.

Cotta

Sorry Golden, as uncomfortable as you and I are with the abbreviation "UVF" due to it being hijacked by terrorists in latter years the original young boys made too huge of a sacrifice to be airbrushed from history.

Golden_Anemone

Cotta wrote: »

the original young boys made too huge of a sacrifice to be airbrushed from history.

That's exactly the sort of nonsense republicans use to justify their distasteful memorials to their so called war dead.