Murphy´s Blog – The Proprietor of Charlie´s has his say… » 2009

January 19, 2009

8 Years of Bush…

Filed under: Murphy´s Ramblings — Tags: 8 years, bastard, bush, presidency — Murphy @ 23:35

Thank God that b*stard is gone…

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January 10, 2009

A slight misunderstanding…

Filed under: Murphy´s Ramblings — Tags: anti-oppression, english, irish, music, wolfe tones — Murphy @ 21:22

There is a perception amongst some Irish and English people that The Wolfe Tones and their fantastic music are anti-English. This couldn’t be further from the truth. They are simply anti-oppression. Remember that the English establishment who oppressed the Irish also oppressed the English working class. The Wolfe Tones simply recorded the history of Ireland with fantastic songwriting and performing talent, and nobody could have possibly achieved that in the manner that they have done.

I remember a time when in the 70s and 80s the ordinary “Joe Soap” in Ireland was completely behind The Wolfe Tones. We are all grateful that there is peace in the North now, but there are a certain element of the Irish population – God… oh sorry, I mean *Bono* – and the Press, who think The Wolfe Tones should shut up now. I understand the North is a very sensitive issue and people´s lives are at stake, but it’s ludicrous to think we should be expected to forget the recent and not so recent past, and I can’t understand why some people, both Irish and English, don’t realise that The Wolfe Tones are and have always been singing about peace, equality and freedom, and for all, and those who fought and paid the ultimate price for that equality.

It’s worth remembering that the recent troubles erupted not because the North was under English control, but because the nationalist community were discriminated against in so many terrible ways. The proof of this is that we now have, thankfully, peace in the North, and it’s still under the control of London, but now there is no discrimination (or very little) if any, I hope, and not just against the nationalist community.

I believe that we should have a 32 county Ireland for the very simple reason that the six counties are simply the North of Ireland, and not the West of England. They say that it’s about the wishes of the majority, but does that mean if the majority of the population of Kilburn in London are Irish that it should be controlled by Dublin??? I also believe that anybody who is English should be and is welcome and treated equally in Ireland to live and work, but that they should respect the fact that they are in Ireland, just as the Irishman working and living in England must respect the fact and the people around him when he is living in England, and he must also be treated equally.

We should all be thankful that there is peace in the North now and hope it stays that way forever, but we should never forget those who fought for justice and those who told the story through their music. I am completely convinced that the songs of The Wolfe Tones will live hundreds of years longer than anything God… oh sorry, I mean *Bono*… ever wrote.

Having a quiet few pints with Brian Warfield the other night, he became very emotional and passionate about the images and news coming from Gaza, and rightly so. Unfortunately it’s another story of oppression, and let’s hope and pray that it comes to an end straight away.

The Wolfe Tones are serious men of peace and principal above all else, and we love to have them at Charlie´s Bar. They are fantastic craic and great company, and we look forward to them playing at Charlie´s again on Tuesday night (13th January).

We apologise to those who couldn’t gain entrance last night due to space, and hope to see you on Tuesday night at Charlie´s, if not before.

Murphy

There is a video from last night on the Charlie´s Bar YouTube Channel

More photos in the Photo Gallery!
The Wolfe Tones at Charlie´s Bar Lanzarote

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January 6, 2009

Positive Reasons for Recession

Filed under: Murphy´s Ramblings — Tags: developing countries, EU, recession, world — Murphy @ 18:48

Here are two positive reasons why we are in recession, and of course there are many negative ones as well, like greedy bankers etc. – but let’s concentrate on the positive.

The world is far from equal but in some ways it is at least heading in the right direction. We have now welcomed 12 new countries into the EU and therefore given millions the right to travel and work more or less where they like, which is a right that they never had before. Let’s hope millions more get the same equal opportunity. Of course, this has an effect on the West, because there are more people available to work – but they should always have had that right.
The second positive reason is that due to World Trade Agreements, developing countries are able to export their produce to Western markets. Again, there is a lot more to be done here, but a start has been made, and the more of it, the better.

In summary, the World is starting to become a more equal place for all its citizens, and not just the 10% of the population from the West who have controlled everything and everyone else for so long by stopping people from moving where they want to, and by telling them that they can’t have access to foreign markets with their produce. Yes it’s hurting the West a little, but why should the house we live in be worth 300,000 instead of 200,000 when there are people starving in the World, with no home at all, because of the way they are controlled by the powerful? It’s worth remembering that people on the dole (in Ireland or England at least) are still part of the 10% of the World´s population that make up the wealthy, when you compare them to World living standards.

Just some thoughts there!

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