This a sample of photos I took when on tour in N. Ireland in 1986-87. I used "Photo Story 3.1" to put them together and the accompanying music is Clannad For more photos see here www.flickr.com/...
I was 19 when I first went to NI on an "Emergancy Tour" of six months, twelve years later, I de-mobbed from the same Provance (on a "Tour") I spent almost 4 years of my 12 "in" ('75 - '87) there. Let no one tell you otherwise, your arse is doing the "Sixpence -- Half Crown" dance on the streets..... To all you, who think the PIRA did well.... Have you ever thought you were picking up a doll in a toy pram, only to realise it was a baby that had been killed by a bomb. Think on that!
The hatred between catholics and protestants in NI is nothing to do with the religions themselves but is instead to do with the peoples heritage, what flag they follow and what government they praise. So yes, it's a lot more complex than just religion.
I thru many a bangor blue slate off the top of Conway mill into that barracks during the mid 80's. Great days they were, I almost clipped a helicopter with one when it was landing at the barracks. What a story i had for school the nxt day. My whole community played a roll in bating yous Bastards (at the time) off our streets. From the primary school kid to the oul doll walking dwn the street we kicked your asses. I can remember seeing a young brit hiding in a garden crying his lamps out taking a panic attack close to Springfield rd barracks. He had only left to go on patrol and he was shitting himself, I was about 9 or 10 at the time and with my friends playing football in the street and we gave him some abuse, poor cunt, his srg came dwn the street and slapped the fuck out of him and made him move on. Exciting times.
Yeah, told to be nice to the kids and usually meant it was safe if kids about. One of them said how his older brothers rifle was better than mine, so I asked him to take me to see it ;)
actually final tally for military deaths was 1047, but i was counting British civilians which brought the numbe rup more, also when u count British Military Deaths during the whole of the 20th Century in all of Ireland it is in the many of thousands
I was there when some of these photos where taken, are you saying you took them all? or some & other photos by other solders/ press etc? I like what you did though
I was in Londonderry/Derry end 82 to end 84.. 18 years old 1st posting, now at 55 years old, I still remember it all; like many of us, as if it was just yesterday. I now have a 20 year old son, I look at him and realise how young many of us were. Not much else to say really...
Good Stuff!, thanks for sharing. Glad you made it home in almost one piece my friend...hope life is treating you well and hope you are free from post traumatic stress.same goes to everyone else who served in Northern Ireland.
Thank you to all former soldiers for your sacrifice, making the place safe(ish) it's hard for people of my generation who are going into the armed forces to imagine what it was like being shot at and abused on a British street. Thank you.
Its down on the Falls road thats where I long to be lying in the dark with my provo company...a comrade on my left and a comrade on my right and a clip of amminition for my little armalite
It's a shame. My dad served in Ireland but it was before these were taken. Must of being in the 70's. He was on a bus when it was blown up by the IRA. He swapped seats before the bomb went off. The seat which he was ment to sit in was destroyed
I dont get this, are you proud of yur time in the North of Ireland or do you think it was something you were forced into. Clannad's music is a lament for Northern Ireland, a lament for the loss of it. Its sung in Irish, and is v. innappropiate to be seen with a foreign army of occupation photos.
@monkeymankills Sorry, where did you get the idea that the British used a tank against civillians? Because, if you read any book about Bloody Sunday, any Website or any Film, theres never any mention or account of a tank. Either you just made that up or you have read something completely untrue.
Great pics, and well put together. I really felt for those young lads sent over here (most of who hadn't a clue what it was all about)...Our Government sent them here, they had no choice.But the Irish being the Irish, couldn't try to solve things peacefully, instead they took the road of Terrorism, killing young lads from behind a fully laden pram. Shame on them. If they opt for peace with Britain now, why not 40 years ago?. God bless them all, and let's hope it's all in the past.
The meek shall inherit the earth, i'm not religious but that does seem to ring true for me at least. When all politic and super rich are gone then we will live in peace.
@dave2806 at what point in my statement did i ever mention or show support for the IRA? when you dnt have a proper answer always revert to an ira statement typical orange response
@Boru002 You really are very blinkered, aren't you. I come from Ireland, grew up there and understand the Britishness of Northern Ireland and the aspirations of the minority there to be part of the Republic of Ireland. Any foreigner should listen to the indigenous population - all of them. Sorry - I forgot - you're Irish. Not. I am.
Notahope, I'm afraid you've been misled. There was a Treaty which was ratified in 1920 in Parliament, and in the fledgling Dail. The Republic (anti- and pro-Treaty) even had a war, and the pro-Treaty faction won. There is absolutely nothing illegal about Northern Ireland.
@thebigchiefbajasus the british army couldnt fire untill fired upon? i would say 99.9% of the time they just fired at anyone they seen with a gun even if they werent fired upon
Speak for yourself mate no one forced you to join did they ! I done 4 tours in NI 2 in Iraq and 2 in Afagainistan dont start with the war stories cos ive been there and done it end of!
if kids were about it usually meant the IRA weren't, or at least they would think twice before shooting at you if a kid was hanging about. Also just a bit of a laugh chatting to the local kids
@padraig4200 Yes he did help, but I was talking about the American people, imagine if British people started to send Al Qaeda funding to buy weapons and IED equipment to use against American soldiers. That is what it was like when Americans funded the IRA.
i for one thought the video was good or nobody heard of social history oh and dave2806 slagging people for being racist and bigoted look at what you have wrote and one word for you irony you dont get it!! not surprised. cbastian232006 keep up the good work i enjoyed it
@dave2806 The majority (most protestants) voted för a parture from Ireland but soon there will be a united Ireland when the majority of the population is Catholic. Just you wait and see :)
@allthefours44 you cant forgive before somone appolagises and the english have never said sorry or admitted fault they say things like "it was regretable" but never admit fault so no we wont forget.
You think that we wanted to be there? Shame on you, if thats what you thought of us! We came to help etc- but thats not what you wanted! We only came to help the underdog, and what we belivie in. But you will turn this around for hatred for the English?
A brave RUC man came walking down my street...500 British Soldiers marching to the beat...he shouted come out you Fenian come out and have a fight...but then he cried "och I'm only joking "when he heard the armour piercing bullets of my little Armalite
Oh Spud boy , dont be silly hehe, you know you like me really dont you , cant wait to see you in boggy land again.. Mmmm plenty of jobs in your are there ? lol i don't really think so, that's why most of your population work's in England .... Maybe we can be pen pal's hahahaa
I can't tell you how sorry I am for these men for having to have traveled to our country and kill in the name of the Queen for "what purpose?" It's a shame and a disgrace for a so-called ciivilized, formerly great country to dominate, subjudicate and despoil another country, let alone such a close neighbor! Give Ireland back to the Irish. Let the Nationalists show the Loyalists that they can govern in fairness without recrimination. Great Britian, get out of Ireland!
