Paisley hints at seeking political asylum in Heaven during trip to Cork? April 21, 2008
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized.trackback
Ian Paisley’s visit to Cobh and Cork went well according to today’s Irish Times, apart from Republican Sinn Féin that is and a lone protester:
…Pat Allen, donning a replica mask of Dr Paisley complete with horns and a devil’s pitchfork and carrying a tricolour, maintaining a vigil outside City Hall for the hour-long visit.
Earlier in Cobh on Friday night, three men were arrested for public order offences during a protest organised by Republican Sinn Féin and attended by about 60 people objecting to Dr Paisley’s attendance at the 50th annual dinner of Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce.
The good Dr. was in ebullient form. All is well. All will be better. And the dread South is not merely a good place, but the reception he received was such that he said…
“Overwhelming - that’s how I feel at the welcome we’ve received here during our visit and the more people from the North who travel south and the more from the South who go north the better we can take care of all our interests,”
Meanwhile, perhaps it was Mr. Allen’s pitchfork and tricolour which prompted the following…
“I’m going to write a book and put on record the things that need to be put on record. Maybe I won’t have it published until after I’m away from this world because I might cause such a furore, I’d be better in heaven,” he said, before breaking into a hearty chuckle.
Interesting to look back at what Paisley was saying about Brian Cowen just five years ago:
http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/04/30/story171322356.asp
RSF report from this weeks IRIS
FOLLOWING an invitation to Ian Paisley by the Cobh, Co Cork Chamber of Commerce to speak at the 50th Anniversary Dinner and Civic Reception organised by Cobh UDC, Cumann Mac Curtáin/Mac Suibhne, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, under its Cathaoirleach Donal Varian, distributed 2,000 leaflets door to door in Cobh calling on the public to protest against this invitation, by phone to the Chamber of Commerce and Cobh UDC, and also to join a public protest on the April 18, 2008 at 7pm at the Commodore Hotel, Cobh.
Republican Sinn Féin members in Munster were also invited to support this protest. With regard to the leaflets and the proposed protest representation was made by the 26-County Special Branch to Cathaoirleach Donal Varian.
On local radio 96FM there was much discussion daily for almost a week, mainly disapproving of this invitation. This led to a debate on air on Thursday morning between Joe McCoitir, Chairman, Chamber of Commerce and Donal Varian, Cathaoirleach, Cumann Mac Curtáin/Mac Suibhne, at the end of which Niall Prendiville, presenter, held a text poll for and against the proposed visit of Ian Paisley. The result of this was a resounding 83% of testers saying NO to Paisley. Only 17% said YES. Niall Prendeville remarked that the station had not previously experienced such a high poll in such a short time.
As the protesters arrived at the Commodore Hotel, Cobh, they were greeted by a large force of gardaí and a dog handler. Donal Varian was approached by a group of gardaí, including an Inspector and a Superintendent, seeking assurance of a peaceful protest.
Despite the awful cold and rain Cumann Mac Curtáin/Mac Suibhne was supported by RSF members from Clare, Kerry and Limerick and other groups and members of the public. Placards were carried calling for ‘No Collaboration with British Administration in Ireland’ and ‘No Collaboration with British Forces of Occupation’.
Numerous Tricolors were carried and displayed. For an hour-and-a-half the protesters marched up and down and chanted slogans and gave a rousing Republican welcome to Ian Paisley, his minders (our local “Lickers Allsorts”) and the paying guests.
An Poblacht Abu.
Interesting report Mick. A tad partisan, perhaps.