Outrage at anti-Pope and IRA song chanted during Northern Ireland wedding

Posted by Jim on October 22, 2019

IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
Distributed to Congress by Irish National Caucus “This attached article is yet another sad reminder of the deep-seated, historic, and on-going anti-Catholicism in Northern Ireland. And it’s important to understand that ‘anti-Catholicism’ is not about differences in faith or theology. Rather ‘anti-Catholicism’ in Northern Ireland is about the British government-sponsored system and culture of  oppressing and showing contempt for  Catholics. Just as anti-Semitism in America is not about theological disagreements but about showing contempt for people of the Jewish faith or heritage.  A few misguided Irish-Americans —who know nothing of British or Irish history—have tried to tell me that it is  ‘counterproductive to progress’ to condemn  such examples of anti-Catholicism. But they, thank God, do not speak for Irish-Americans. African-Americans correctly call out anti-Black racism, and I back them 100 percent. The same as I back Jewish-Americans who are not silent about some re-emergence of anti-Semitism in the US.”—Fr. Sean McManus.

Outrage at anti-Pope and IRA song chanted during Northern Ireland wedding
IrishCentral Staff@IrishCentral New York City. Monday, October 21, 2019

 Shock has been expressed after a bride and groom in County Antrim sang “f*** the Pope and the IRA”, a hate-filled, anti-Catholic song as their wedding tune.

Shock and outrage has been expressed after a video emerged of a newly married couple, from the unionist tradition, singing an anti-Catholic song on their wedding day song to a room crowded with guests, including children who were encouraged to join in.

A video of the bride and groom singing “f*** the Pope and the IRA” at their wedding reception occurs as the couple enters the ballroom in a hotel in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, singing the blatantly sectarian lyrics. The incident occurred earlier this month.

Police investigation

Northern Ireland police investigated the video. The police told The Irish News “The incident in Carrickfergus was investigated as a hate incident; legal advice was sought as to whether any of the actions constituted a criminal offense.

“No offenses relating to the incident were identified.”

No one stepped in to stop the performance and the staff at The Belfast Loughshore Hotel said they were “not prepared to intervene” and “risk it becoming something much worse”.

Stephen Carson, Manager of the hotel, said: “The events had absolutely nothing to do with the owners, management or staff.

“To the many people commenting, ‘Why didn’t the hotel manager step in and put a stop to it?’, my answer is simple.

“I would never ask anyone to do something that I would not do. I can assure you all that I would not be prepared to risk what was a 90-second episode where no one was hurt becoming something much worse.”

The sectarian song is chanted by Glasgow Rangers football fans in Scotland and Unionists in Northern Ireland.

Social media outcry

Over 1.5 million people have seen the video online.

One user on Facebook said: “Disgraceful. They don’t think much of the guests and families and children. They must have a very sad life organizing to have that played at their wedding.”

Another stated: “Sad, sad couple if that’s all they could sing on their wedding day.”

A Twitter user commented: “Imagine; You finally get married to the love of your life. You and he are surrounded by love and all that’s in the minds of these two amadáns. Is “F**k the Pope and the IRA”. Miserable people ..I swear. [sic]”

The song’s opening lyrics read:

“When I was young I had no sense
I bought a flute for 50 pence
The only song that I could play
Was f- – – the Pope and the IRA.”
END