British Ambassador Fails To Attend National Famine Ceremony - No Explanation

[C. Flower]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/british-fail-to-attend-famine-ceremony-2182551.html

Fourteen other countries sent diplomatic representation to the official Famine Commemoration ceremony yesterday

The Ambassador, Julian King, has written and apologised for his failure to attend or send representation but has not offered any explanation (confirmed with Press Office -CF).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_King_(diplomat)

Any fitting response ?



Fourteen other nations and even the European Parliament (http://www.independent.ie/topics/European+Parliament)'s man made the effort to gather at the foot of the mountain for the ceremony in memory of the 1.6 million or so who either starved to death under British rule or fled the country in a desperate effort to keep body and soul together.
Attendees included US (http://www.independent.ie/topics/United+States) ambassador to Ireland (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Ireland) Dan Rooney (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Dan+Rooney), Australian ambassador Bruce Davis (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Bruce+Davis) and Chinese ambassador Liu Biwei (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Liu+Biwei).
The Slovakians, Slovenians, Croatians and Latvians and a host of others also turned up.
Nigeria (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Nigeria) was also determined to be represented and sent along its deputy head of mission here.
But not the Brits -- even though government sources confirmed that, yes, they had been invited.
Officials in Co Mayo (http://www.independent.ie/topics/County+Mayo) yesterday simply shrugged their shoulders when questioned as to their whereabouts.
Community, Equality and Gaeltacht (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Gaeltacht) Affairs Minister Pat Carey (http://www.independent.ie/topics/Pat+Carey+(Irish+Politician)) led the government team at the solemn event, but a spokesperson said afterwards that he did not have any comment to make about the non-appearance of a British representative

[Newsy]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/british-fail-to-attend-famine-ceremony-2182551.html

Fourteen other countries sent diplomatic representation to the official Famine Commemoration ceremony yesterday

The Ambassador, Julian King, has written and apologised for his failure to attend or send representation but has not offered any explanation (confirmed with Press Office -CF).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_King_(diplomat)

Any fitting response ?

In reality, WHEN we honour our own dead....we won't need anyone else to honour them.

What is the deal about some British diplomate NOT attending??? So what!!!

Honouring OUR dead, is OUR responsibility.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

I notice both the Taoiseach and the President sent along their respective Aides-de-Camp.

The thread could just as easily ask why either or both office holders had something better to do ....

[C. Flower]

I notice both the Taoiseach and the President sent along their respective Aides-de-Camp.

The thread could just as easily ask why either or both office holders had something better to do ....

If no one has the answer to that, I'll enquire.

Perhaps they were having tea with the Ambassador.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Its a strange one though- and bearing in mind that they've only just in the last week appointed a Minister of State for Northern Ireland I think the British have a legitimate reason for not having anyone in attendance to be honest.

I'd be more annoyed about why the Taoiseach nor the President was there.

[C. Flower]

Mary was elsewhere -

Sunday, 16th May 2010 4:00 p.m. (Dublin) Blackrock
President attends Blackrock College Sports and Family Day and unveils the work in glass sesquicentenary window to mark the 150th anniversary of the college


« Back to Engagements (http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=6&year=2010&lang=eng)
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[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Oh right- a college sports day outranks the memorial to the Famine?

[C. Flower]

The Taoiseach had a "prior engagement" "What was the engagement" "It was a private engagement". Department of the Taoiseach Press Office.

[Newsy]

Oh right- a college sports day outranks the memorial to the Famine?

NOW, that's an issue!!!!

Our President couldn't show up to a memorial on the OUR Famine???? :mad:

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Ah but Blackrock College's need was greater ....

[C. Flower]

NOW, that's an issue!!!!

Our President couldn't show up to a memorial on the OUR Famine???? :mad:

I was at a famine commemoration a few years ago, attended by Mary McAleese. It was the opening of a famine garden with a particularly fine piece of sculpture, with the names and numbers who died spiralling around a rock.

She couldn't be got out to have a look, but stopped in the cottage on the edge of the garden and tried to order some of its rustic furniture for her holiday home.

I've met her a couple of times, and tbh, I wouldn't say we got on.

[Ah Well]

Mary was elsewhere -

Sunday, 16th May 2010 4:00 p.m. (Dublin) Blackrock
President attends Blackrock College Sports and Family Day and unveils the work in glass sesquicentenary window to mark the 150th anniversary of the college


« Back to Engagements (http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=6&year=2010&lang=eng)
http://www.president.ie/resources/engagement_pic_03.jpg
http://www.president.ie/resources/engagement_pic_02.jpg
http://www.president.ie/resources/engagement_pic_01.jpg

Instead of attending the National day of Commemoration?

:eek:

And where was the Taoiseach on a so called "private engagement"?

This should be fired at the media to see if any would bite and pursue it further imho

[Pat De Baker]

Auch now folks - Are we that bad that we have to demand that the Taoiseach & President have to turn up at every event up and down the country?

In relation to "No British involvement" - again does it really matter. If they did send one - We'd probably have topics about the "How dare they turn up"

[Digout]

And where was the Taoiseach on a so called "private engagement"?

What pub?

[C. Flower]

What pub?

They didn't say it was a pub.

I had a discussion once with the same Department as to what consituted a "private engagement" by the Taoiseach. The dinner with the bankers was a "private engagement" - therefore no press, no copy of speech etc.

[C. Flower]

Auch now folks - Are we that bad that we have to demand that the Taoiseach & President have to turn up at every event up and down the country?

In relation to "No British involvement" - again does it really matter. If they did send one - We'd probably have topics about the "How dare they turn up"

I don't really blame the Taoiseach or Pres. that much, although I would have thought that one of them might have made the trip.

I don't really understand why I feel so miffed about the Ambassador neither going nor sending anybody.

Yes I do. Its the sheer bloody carelessness to lose a million people about the place and then "forget" to go to the wake.

Plus, diplomats don't forget events, and little of what they do is accidental.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5f/Skibbereen_1847_by_James_Mahony.JPG/225px-Skibbereen_1847_by_James_Mahony.JPG

[Lapsedmethodist]

And todays ritual humiliation is...... dah dah....The Famine !
Next week..... Dresden, followed by Amritsar.

Who'd be a Brit ?

[Kid Ryder]

And todays ritual humiliation is...... dah dah....The Famine !
Next week..... Dresden, followed by Amritsar.

Who'd be a Brit ?

Ah there's good bobs to be made in polishing their nuclear weapons for them. Leopards don't change spots and so on...

[Lapsedmethodist]

Have the Inglesi apologised to the Scots ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Potato_Famine

[My Nuclear Tomahawk]

They are globally renowned for their arrogance. Every place they stuck their noses in, is in shyte. Now it is coming home to roost. What's the betting that Britian will be an islamic state by the year 2075, sharia law, the lot.

George Washington had the measure of them though. Friendly fire, you have to love it.

[C. Flower]

Have the Inglesi apologised to the Scots ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Potato_Famine

Common courtesy was all that was required.

[Sam Lord]

In reality, WHEN we honour our own dead....we won't need anyone else to honour them.

What is the deal about some British diplomate NOT attending??? So what!!!

Honouring OUR dead, is OUR responsibility.

Sure, but when we invite them and they don't show up it is a message of sorts.

[Sam Lord]

Ah but Blackrock College's need was greater ....

Well, it's not any old College after all ..

[C. Flower]

Sure, but when we invite them and they don't show up it is a message of sorts.

Its a message on the value of reconciliation.

[Lapsedmethodist]

Someone on another blog said that it would be like Hitler turning up at a holocaust memorial !!
True dat !

[Gruffalo]

Why is this an even issue?

The British failed to turn up when they were actually needed i.e. when our people were starving. So what is the point in even having them at an even to commemorate these people. If anything, it would be an insult to the dead.

[Lapsedmethodist]

Why is this an even issue?

The British failed to turn up when they were actually needed i.e. when our people were starving. So what is the point in even having them at an even to commemorate these people. If anything, it would be an insult to the dead.

Not only that; it betrays an insecurity tht's all too common. By having the British there they would some how validate the occasion.

[Gruffalo]

Not only that; it betrays an insecurity tht's all too common. By having the British there they would some how validate the occasion.

Exactly

[C. Flower]

Nonsense. All the Embassies were invited and there was only one no show, without even an apology.

No amount of wriggling around can conceal the offence.

And Cowen and McAleese are just as bad.

[Gruffalo]

Nonsense. All the Embassies were invited and there was only one no show, without even an apology.

No amount of wriggling around can conceal the offence.

And Cowen and McAleese are just as bad.

Rubbish. For whatever reason, we invited them - we shouldn't

Why do you feel so inferior that you are upset by the non-appearance of the British at an Irish event. Are you incapable of remembering your own people without them?

[C. Flower]

Rubbish. For whatever reason, we invited them - we shouldn't

Why do you feel so inferior that you are upset by the non-appearance of the British at an Irish event. Are you incapable of remembering your own people without them?

Irrelevant to the point.

[Gruffalo]

Irrelevant to the point.

What is the point? You are upset because they did not turn up.

Who cares? They are irrelevant to the commemoration. If anything, their non attendance is fitting as they failed to turn up, without explanation, when they were needed i.e. when our people were dying.

[C. Flower]

What is the point? You are upset because they did not turn up.

Who cares? They are irrelevant to the commemoration. If anything, their non attendance is fitting as they failed to turn up, without explanation, when they were needed i.e. when our people were dying.

Do you like being treated with contempt ?

[Gruffalo]

Do you like being treated with contempt ?

What contempt?

[Ah Well]

It's going off thread but prob better than opening a new thread to deal with it ..

Absence of the Brit Ambassador is whatever ....

What saddens me a lot more ultimately is the absence of a lot of Irish ppl in the sense of apathy on a grand scale to the plight and suffering of their Ancestors

Apathy is at the root and cause of a lot in this country ... who govern us today and of whom the multitudes moan to some extent is also as a result of apathy

[Lapsedmethodist]

It's going off thread but prob better than opening a new thread to deal with it ..

Absence of the Brit Ambassador is whatever ....

What saddens me a lot more ultimately is the absence of a lot of Irish ppl in the sense of apathy on a grand scale to the plight and suffering of their Ancestors

Apathy is at the root and cause of a lot in this country ... who govern us today and of whom the multitudes moan to some extent is also as a result of apathy

Maybe we should have an apathy thread ?
On second thoughts...

[Ah Well]

Maybe we should have an apathy thread ?
On second thoughts...

Hmmm .... a Thread on the Apathy of the Irish towards Politics might not be a bad thing persea ;)

Moaning to Joe Duffy doesn't absolve one from such sin btw

[C. Flower]

Hmmm .... a Thread on the Apathy of the Irish towards Politics might not be a bad thing persea ;)




But can we be bothered to start one ??? :confused:

[Ah Well]

But can we be bothered to start one ??? :confused:

:D ...

[Ah Well]

Mary was elsewhere -

Sunday, 16th May 2010 4:00 p.m. (Dublin) Blackrock
President attends Blackrock College Sports and Family Day and unveils the work in glass sesquicentenary window to mark the 150th anniversary of the college


« Back to Engagements (http://www.president.ie/index.php?section=6&year=2010&lang=eng)
http://www.president.ie/resources/engagement_pic_03.jpg
http://www.president.ie/resources/engagement_pic_02.jpg
http://www.president.ie/resources/engagement_pic_01.jpg

She'll be attending the New York version tho

http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/mcaleese-to-attend-famine-commemoration-in-new-york-458103.html

[Iolo]

They are globally renowned for their arrogance. Every place they stuck their noses in, is in shyte. Now it is coming home to roost. What's the betting that Britian will be an islamic state by the year 2075, sharia law, the lot.
.

9,000,000,000,000,000,000 to one against?