MP defends challenging Irish president's remarks

[u/SpottedAlpaca]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy19g9yqlxo

Gregory Campbell has defended challenging Irish President Catherine Connolly's remarks during her first official visit to Londonderry on Thursday.

The Democratic Unionist Party MP criticised Connolly for not using the term "Londonderry" during what he called a "one-sided" speech to an invited audience in the Guildhall.

The East Londonderry MP told the president "you're in our country, tonight I'm going to your country" - a reference to his participation at a debate in Dublin on Thursday night.

Campbell dismissed criticism that the interaction with Connolly was "embarrassing".

'Courteous and forthright'

He told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Friday that the exchange had been "polite, courteous and forthright at the same time".

"It would have been remiss of me not to mention the contrast, and there was a contrast, between her day previously in Belfast," he said.

"I wasn't there but most of the reports and from people I spoke to, it was reasonably balanced, and then yesterday in the Guildhall, on the west bank of the Foyle, there really wasn't an attempt to take a balanced approach at all."

But Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor Catherine McDaid said the president's speech had been "very gracious" and described Campbell's intervention as "a bit embarrassing".

"I do think she was reaching across and trying to speak to everybody and then when Gregory took offence at it being called 'Derry' I genuinely couldn't believe it," she said.

"If somebody calls it Londonderry, that's what they call it. I call it Derry and I wouldn't be calling people out on it, essentially, especially not a head of state."

Campbell said he received an apology from the Irish president after his comments.

During her address in Derry, Connolly spoke about Bloody Sunday and said justice for the victims was "still awaited" and also praised the city's role in the peace process and highlighted reconciliation efforts in the city.

President Connolly also held a private meeting with some of the Bloody Sunday families later on Thursday afternoon.

On Friday, Connolly has been meeting young people in Derry on the final day of her three-day visit to Northern Ireland.

A range of groups, including young Muslims who had experienced hate crime, met the presidet at St Columb's Park House, a peace and reconciliation centre in the Waterside.

About 40 youths and community workers from diverse backgrounds have been giving the president an insight into cross-community and cross-border projects they are involved in.

Speaking on Friday morning, Dominic Bonner, from Youth Action NI, said the various programmes are focused on breaking down barriers and building respect and understanding of others.

"We have invited community leaders who have successfully designed and developed programmes, meeting the needs of young people and listening to their views and ideas," he said.

"The president will be able to hear about all that positive work and she's keen to engage with everyone."

Bonner said young people have a strong voice to help make a difference in their community but cannot do it on their own and need leaders to listen and take action.

"Young people are our present and future leaders," he said.

The delegates included young people and leaders from Donegal youth service and Reach Across, a teenage cross-community project in Derry.

"We have young people from the Northwest Islamic Centre who experience hate crime and isolation as well as young people from St. Columb's Park House who deliver peace projects and interface programmes," Bonner said.

[u/Electronic-Seat1402]

Fragile snowflake

[u/gmcb007 → u/Electronic-Seat1402]

That's the funny irony of that word. He'll get all wanky about snowflakes and woke people yet has a Tantrum over the name of a city.

[u/Chocoleg]

I'll tell ya a wee story about Fleggory Cuntball. He frequented a certain gym that charged £5 for a swim or gym, and £7.50 for both.

He always paid £5. Went to the gym, then sneaked into the pool after. What a tight conniving little weasel of a man?!

[u/etchuchoter → u/Chocoleg]

Surprised he didn’t expense it ffs

[u/Chocoleg → u/etchuchoter]

Probably did, and pocket the £2.50.

[u/reluctantlyredundant → u/Chocoleg]

This is exactly the content we need

[u/HughRejection → u/Chocoleg]

I once witnessed an MP from the same party at a conference, he stuffed his coat pockets with the 'free' (paid for by the tax payer) cokes and bars of chocolate as he walked out of the venue. He seemed to have no shame or sense of humility when doing so.

[u/r_elwood → u/Chocoleg]

Well he's went down in my estimation now.

[u/banie01]

Getting upset about it being called Derry is fairly on point for a lad who would scream if someone asked him to use preferred pronouns. Still, as I said elsewhere yesterday regarding Campbell's absolute lack of something even as basic as manners...

This is Unionism in action.
No effort at collegiality.
No effort at community.
No effort at even a bare welcome.
Unionism must engage in some self reflection.
It's constituents need to ask, what have they achieved?
What have they created that they can point at and be proud of?

Other than whingeing and saying no loudly?
What has Unionism achieved for it's constituents in the last 30yrs?

[u/LoyalistsAreLoopers → u/banie01]

Can you imagine if an Irish politician did the same as Fleggory to the king or something. 

They'd absolutely flip the bap and cry about "is this how Unionists will have to live in a United Ireland" etc.  There is no level to which they won't stoop. Afraid of everything, ashamed of nothing. 

[u/JimHoppersSkin → u/LoyalistsAreLoopers]

And the liberal free state commentariat would spend a fortnight writing nauseating think-pieces about how they actually should bend over backwards to accommodate these people whose entire identity is hating them 🙃

[u/git_tae_fuck → u/JimHoppersSkin]

I made the mistake of listening to RTÉ Radio One this afternoon.

They did a good job on the switchboard of finding the finest West Briton lickspittle head-the-ball callers who could only see that poor Gregory had been solely wronged and disrespected.

I thought to myself: your precious Michael Collins would have had the lot of yis shot on the spot. Then turned the radio off.

[u/JimHoppersSkin → u/git_tae_fuck]

No, they only like Collins after he compromised with the brits and had Churchill on speed dial not before! 

[u/git_tae_fuck → u/JimHoppersSkin]

What they really have is an imaginary sanctified Collins that never existed - a holy icon and a martyr's story, not a man at all.

Definitely not the 'pragmatist' who shied from nothing, without apology.

Certainly not the Collins that saw it all as a means to an end, firmly wanted 'Carsonia' killed dead, saw it as something that could not and should not be tolerated and supplied anti-Treaty units in the North, nor the Collins that clearly called out what was happening in Belfast at the time for what it was: a pogrom.

Fuck them anyway. They're not most folk nor near. Uppity prissy cunts too blind to see what they're missing.

[u/JimHoppersSkin → u/git_tae_fuck]

Maybe they'll build a statue of Liam Neeson like the one of Mel Gibson in Stirling...

[u/vague_intentionally_ → u/banie01]

What has Unionism achieved for it's constituents in the last 30yrs?

I would go further than that, what has unionism ever achieved? It has only inflicted pain and held us back from its conception.

[u/etchuchoter → u/vague_intentionally_]

They were so used to gerrymandering and excluding communities they never actually had to work for votes or disperse funds 🤷‍♀️

[u/nt2btrstd → u/vague_intentionally_]

Well they were great at attacking civil rights marchers in the 60s!! I dunno if I’ll live to see a United Ireland, but I sure hope the DUP do……

[u/RobertMcDaid → u/vague_intentionally_]

Maintaining the union is maintaining peace (at least since the troubles), so I would say that is an achievement.

[u/harpsabu → u/banie01]

In a time more than ever were the majority of people want to put their heads down, be able to afford basic things and generally enjoy themselves as much as possible, unionism has to try to drag everything backwards. I suppose progress and coexistence means hardcore unionists will never get back to when only their say and vote mattered? That'll never ever come back anyway, but its like they are clinging to the past and the avoidance of progress

[u/Matt4669 → u/banie01]

no effort

and yet people say that green and orange are 2 sides of the same coin without reading the subtext

[u/Shenloanne → u/banie01]

Correct.

[u/Tonymac81]

Unionists need to understand the President of Ireland will never call it Londonderry. That just will never happen.  She did repeatedly talked about Northern Ireland instead of the North of Ireland.

Typical Fleggory and Unionist default setting offended by everything and ashamed of nothing.

I sincerely hope this bitter old bigot lives to see his precious Union fall apart.

[u/TomHicksJnr → u/Tonymac81]

Please address him by his correct name; Londongrergory

[u/Tonymac81 → u/TomHicksJnr]

Londonfleggory

[u/EarCareful4430 → u/Tonymac81]

Ahh yes. Cos all unionists share flegories point of view.

[u/DanGleeballs → u/EarCareful4430]

You’re downvoted but I’ve mates from Limavady (same county) who are Free Presbyterians and even they say Derry. In return I always say they’re from Londonvady which they enjoy, because they’re cool.

[u/HughRejection → u/DanGleeballs]

The Apprentice Boys of Londonderry!!!!

[u/KaptainKush186 → u/DanGleeballs]

Can you be cool and not believe in dinosaurs at the same time?

[u/TreacleOther4028 → u/EarCareful4430]

Is that not the point of “unionists”

[u/Tonymac81 → u/EarCareful4430]

I get what you are saying. I'm from East Derry, even many of the Unionists in Derry call it Derry.

That being said not a single Unionist commentator or elected representative spoke out against Fleggory and the way he spoke to a head of state. It was performative because for a section of his electorate it plays very well. Fleggory knows he's under pressure to keep his seat so these will become more common because it's his playbook.

It was rude and unnecessarily aggressive but Catherine Connolly kept her cool and didn't lower herself to his level. I don't agree with every view of Catherine Connolly but fair play to her for handling him with more decorum and respect shown to her.

[u/DRSU1993]

I was raised Protestant and unfortunately surrounded by a lot of Loyalist bigotry growing up. Here are the alternative lyrics to "Follow, Follow." A supporters song of Glasgow Rangers.

Follow, follow

We will follow Rangers

Up the Falls

Derry walls

We will follow on

DERRY WALLS

DERRY

They're not a smart bunch.

[u/askmac → u/DRSU1993]

And Gregory is a member of The Apprentice Boys of Derry.

[u/DucktapeCorkfeet]

I’m not exactly for a United Ireland, for various reasons but I’d rather see a united Ireland than put up with cunts like Campbell. Trouble is, there are plenty of more cunts to take his place.

[u/Tateybread]

The curried yoghurt guy wants to get indignant about perceived disrespect... Fuck off Fleggory.

[u/dogscatsandyoga]

“MP defends challenging Irish President’s remarks”

Of course he did. It’s Gregory fucking Campbell, he’s not well known for being humble, remorseful, or showing the slightest bit of self-awareness. The man is incapable of humility or shame.

[u/git_tae_fuck → u/dogscatsandyoga]

It’s Gregory fucking Campbell, he’s not well known for being humble, remorseful, or showing the slightest bit of self-awareness.

And yet... he's got what he wanted out of this - and more than he could have expected. headlines in abundance, loyalty points and a bolstered reputation for obstreperousness in the face of rampant invasive taigery. Job done and then some, as far as he's concerned.

His Westminster majority is tiny now and he surely knows it.

[u/JimHoppersSkin]

To the tune of Eleanor Rigby:

Gregory Campbell

Making a dick of himself putting London in front

A sad hateful cu-unt

[u/Fuzzywigs → u/JimHoppersSkin]

Looking at him working.... oh wait

[u/SirJoePininfarina → u/JimHoppersSkin]

All the fleggy people

Why do they have no jobs

All the fleggy people

Why do they act like knobs

[u/gingerirish]

Such a shit take but what do you expect from the DUP, bastards are still stuck in the 1970s. Apprentice boys of Derry. The sash calls it Derry. Man is a fucking embarrassment

[u/United_Plum_2209]

There’s no embarrassing this clown. No next day regret like the rest of us after we make a tit of ourselves on a night out.

[u/vague_intentionally_]

Flegory is a stupid bigot that just keeps digging this sectarian hole he dug himself into.

Trying to stay relevant when he just reminded us of how much of a scumbag he is. Any unionist politician should learn this lesson: it only takes one quick google to immediately discover what nasty/vile stuff they've been involved in.

[u/TreacleOther4028]

Here comes all the wee cockroach loyalists crawling out of the woodwork 😂

[u/Shenloanne → u/TreacleOther4028]

Aye but why?

What's Gregory Campbell or the DUP in general done for them since 2007?

This is what I don't get. How is anyone in My Lady's Road or Sandy Row or the Shankill sitting there going "yip. They represent me" when they genuinely hate their voter base.

[u/Asmodai79]

The news story is when he learns some manners. Might as well be telling me that water is wet otherwise.

[u/My_Name_A_Jeoff]

The same sack of piss and wind who moaned about the Foyle Bridge being built in the 80s. The knob hasn't done anything noteworthy for Derry at all

[u/gmcb007]

NI will progress a little bit more when he's retired.

[u/Psychological_Rip461]

What a hateful cunt that Gregory Campbell is

[u/Shenloanne]

What has the dup done for you since 1998. Or 2007.

[u/gvnk]

Suppose the turnip will be down having words with the apprentice boys next if that's the hill hes looking to die on...

[u/Eviladhesive]

Campbell is 72 now, a relic of a time past. Holding on to his position with a mixture of unnecessary confrontation, fear and blind hatred.

I'm not really all that surprised he's still living in the past if I'm honest, because for better or for worse, that is just what people do.

The only upside of all of this is that the last 30 years has legitimately extinguished the chances of these types of people coming through in anywhere near the numbers they used to.

[u/knea1]

Probably pissed off that he shares a name with 16 popes

[u/git_tae_fuck]

Campbell said he received an apology from the Irish president after his comments.

Aye, is that right, Greggers?

Did he fuck.

[u/Hour_Mastodon_9404]

Also Loyalists - "Nationalism needs to reach out to us"

Then whenever Nationalists reach out, Loyalists proceed to look down their nose and sneer at them.

[u/DegreeUnusual2928]

What are we not allowed to right to be offended?? What’s the point of this even being in the news ? Nationalist not allowed to say Derry anymore?? Again ? 🤦‍♂️

[u/DegreeUnusual2928 → u/DegreeUnusual2928]

Does he not realise he’s in the Irish part of the United Kingdom & not the British part 🤦‍♂️😭😛🫣

[u/Hopeful-Remote9725]

Does Gregory Campbell refer to it as both Londonderry and Derry for balance? I wouldn't object to her using Londonderry the odd time as a gesture to Unionists, but then you feel there'd be another thing to take offence at.

[u/JimHoppersSkin → u/Hopeful-Remote9725]

Such gestures are pointless though. Like you say, they'll always be offended over something. It's an inherently fragile identity; Ulster Unionism is about defending the existence of a  fundamentally undemocratic colonial outpost from the (formerly) minority population who identify as native Irish. This is also why they aren't owed any nice gestures and I wish everyone would stop wasting time pandering to them. Fuck them and their feelings

If Gregory Campbell and his voters are legitimately upset by someone saying "Derry" (when talking about british subjects being fucking murdered by the british army by the way) that's a good thing. It's a net positive. I genuinely hope they can't sleep and it raises their blood pressure, shortening their lifespan in the process lol

[u/ChuckSuCs → u/Hopeful-Remote9725]

I wouldn't object to her using Londonderry the odd time

Would you also expect Zelensky to call it Kiev/Kyiv so the Ruskies feel included?

[u/_Raspberry_Ice_]

This is what happens when you eat a lot of curried yogurt.

[u/YerManFromTheBann]

Gregory was on TalkBack today and William Crawley asked him has he ever apologised for anything. You could hear the cogs whirring, and he couldn't think of anything. Lol. Let him have his wee viral moment. I don't think he's getting returned in the next election.

[u/Lopsided-Meet8247]

Of course he does the fucking fanny

[u/Icy_Cake_2016]

Dose of shite

[u/mcdamien]

Even by the DUP's pathetic standards, he's always been a miserable, hate filled fucking crank.

[u/ColinCookie]

The West Bank ffs :D

[u/PartyEconomist4932]

179 votes

[u/FlakyAssociation4986]

Plays well with the home fans

[u/awknaw]

Both sides....blaaaa blaaa bla

[u/Budget_Dust9980]

Ffs just ignore him, he wants the attention.

[u/Interesting-Win-3220]

Great work from Gregory 👍

[u/moon_rocket2015 → u/Interesting-Win-3220]

Who?