I dont think the Macklin situation is a "marketing ploy", as he's been very proud of his Irish roots since he was a child playin Hurling for Tipp. His parents told him and his brother when they were children that the only thing English about them was their accents. Macklin has said his father told him that just because you were born in a stable, it doesn't make you a horse. As for Jamie Conlon, he wears an Irish Tri colour on his shorts. Yes, both are Catholic.
what does mainland mean...britain is made up of england, scotland , wales...unless ur living on sum wee island of britain and ur talking about the "mainland":yep:good
Carruth and Nevin : Its essentail we keep Billy Walsh and Zaur Antia http://www.irish-boxing.com/2012/08/carruth-and-nevin-essential-we-keep-billy-wash-and-zaur-antia/ Irish Boxing Team finish fifth in the medals table http://www.irish-boxing.com/2012/08/irish-boxing-team-finish-5th-in-boxing-medal-table/ Conlan targeting podium finish in Rio http://www.irish-boxing.com/2012/08/conlan-targeting-top-podium-finish-in-rio/ Nevin heartbroken after final defeat http://www.irish-boxing.com/2012/08/nevin-heartbroken-after-final-defeat/
I don't know about young Conlon, but Paddy Barnes would fight for Ireland if he went pro. There was a british lad giving him abuse on his twitter account for boxing for Ireland since he was from Northern Ireland. Paddy said he boxes for Ireland, because he's Irish. Paddy also added that he holds an Irish passport not a British passport.
Sorry to disrupt the very interesting politics/nationality debate here but is there any footage of Pajo Hyland's recent fight? He really needs to step it up. His opposition has been pretty pathetic considering how experienced he is.
The likes of Paddy Barnes and where is from means that he wouldve been on an Irish passoport all his life. His nationality is Irish, they couldve choosen British but certain areas dont do that there, they DO have a choice:good
So in a nutshell N.Irish boxers when turning pro will more or less defect to Brittan for better prospects. Or if there are default Brittish its the mandatory opinion unless they actively pursue Irish representation.
yeah sure, but you've misunderstood what I was saying - I know the politics like the back of my hand, but I'm talking about amateur boxing in NI. Let me put it this way: we could have Jimmy McCorkal and he could be as orange as the sun and yet if he wanted to box amateur in the Olympics he would have to fight for Ireland, there's not really any choice involved, but I get that Barnes considers himself Irish.
Pretty much, yeah, though I wouldn't use the word 'defect', it's more the case that NI folk are born British citizens, and we can apply for Irish citizenship if want - so if you're turning pro and you really wanted to represent Ireland, you'd have made the conscious decision to get Irish citizenship and represent Ireland. Otherwise you'd be de facto British. Having said that though, you can represent Ireland and still fight British titles by virtue of being born in NI. But my original point was regarding amateur boxing, where there isn't any choice really. My own opinion in that NI should have its own sporting associations - so NI first, then either GB or Ireland with you making the choice; it's only really an 'issue' (if you can call it that) in the Olympics. For example, I'm sure Barnes and co will be repping NI to the fullest in the Commonwealth games.
The protestants that have boxed for Irlenad in the past dont seem to have any problem representing Ireland in the past and Wayne McCullough is always supporting the Iirish boxers on facebook etc and never the British ones, when you turn pro you dont represent a country you represent yourself , if it has on boxrec a British flag that just means they rank you in British ranking and is not reflective of what country you represent !