Poisonous Patriotism: Lords, Anthems & broken lives

The Tánaiste Micheál Martin condemned the booing of God Save The King by Irish fans before Ireland played England on Saturday. The Daily Mail called for England manager Lee Carsley to be sacked before the game because he said he wouldn’t sing the anthem.On Free State today, Joe and Dion wonder why this plastic patriotism is indulged and why real patriotism can transform a country. Dion was at the Aviva on Saturday. Joe can’t understand why he was there - or why he doesn’t get better seats. Dion has frustrations other than the pantomime booing.In the world where actions can make a difference, Joe talks about the visit by the DUP’s Gordon Lyons to Creggan GAA club. Joe also recalls the darker period in the club’s history. He tells the powerful story of Peadar Heffron, who became one of the first GAA members to join the PSNI, and how he was failed by his own community. A failure which should makes us ask questions of ourselves and dismiss those who peddle cheap nationalism.This episode of Free State is sponsored by Manscaped. Visit https://www.manscaped.com/ and get 20% off and free shipping by using code freestate20Free State with Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning is a Gold Hat Production in association with SwanMcG.For more on Free State: https://freestatepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Free State is a podcast for the curious that stimulates, provokes, challenges and entertains, while never taking itself too seriously. Free State covers topics from sport to politics, love to loss, the human condition and how to fix the world, with guests from across the planet including Nigerian princes, former Prime Ministers, ex convicts, footballers, boxers and extraordinary people from every walk of life. Free State is presented by Joe Brolly and Dion Fanning. Brolly is a barrister, an original thinker with a fascinating backstory, who donated a kidney to a stranger and then led a crusade to transform organ donation on the island of Ireland, and Fanning is an award-winning interviewer and author. They are not motivational gurus or life coaches. They will never try to sell you a penis scented candle. They are two people from very different worlds, with one core belief uniting them - this is not a high performance podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.