Catholics beat Mormons again: Irish Same-Sex Marriage Vote

[_Chap]

In the center of Hull is a statue of William III, oddly standing above public restrooms. The locals call it King Billy. Occasionally, on St. Patrick's eve, unknown persons will spray paint it green.

Appologies for the derail.

Yes, but they are VERY classy public lavatories:

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk ... WNpwabfAng

KINGSTON UPON HULL

TA1028SW MARKET PLACE
680-1/26/255 Public toilets to north of King
William III statue

GV II

Gents toilets. c1900. Brick with terracotta and granite
dressings and partly glazed segmental arched lead roof. The
structure is mainly underground. Surrounding brick wall has
moulded plinth and coping. North-west corner entrance has a
pair of rectangular granite piers with arched tops containing
the City arms, and a pair of arch topped wrought-iron gates.
Steps with glazed tiled side walls lead down to a 4-centred
arched doorway with a 4-centred arched head in faience, with a
cartouche with the City arms. INTERIOR, lined with glazed
brick in green and cream, has leaf-patterned frieze and
segment-arched steel roof girders. Fittings by Finch & Co of
Lambeth include 8 slate stalls with marble and glass cisterns
and 4 cubicles with part-fluted Ionic columns between the
doors. The columns have swagged capitals topped with
acroteria, and carry a moulded cornice. Cubicles have shaped
doors with shaped panels and pairs of leaded lights. Beside
the entrance, a washroom with a half-glazed panelled door
flanked to left by a 2-light glazing bar window with moulded
transom and round-cornered overlight. To its left, a moulded
5-panel door with 2 leaded lights with segmental pediments.

And he is not exactly 'over' the facilities: they were constructed later, to the north of the statue:

http://gohistoric.com/places/652154-pub ... -upon-hull

[_DrW]

Secularism became linked in the public imagination with the benefits of urban modernity and religion was relegated to an association with the poverty of the rural past.

Evidence of the diminishing influence of organized religion in Ireland was to be found a few blocks from my hotel.

A well kept church building, no longer needed for services, had been put up for sale, lease, or rent in the middle of the city. As far as I could see, the property had been on the market for a long time. There seemed to be no interest in it.



Some on this board have openly speculated about what would happen to Mormon chapel buildings once attendance falls off to the point that they can no longer be supported financially.

They would certainly make great community / senior citizen centers.

[_Chap]

Secularism became linked in the public imagination with the benefits of urban modernity and religion was relegated to an association with the poverty of the rural past.

Evidence of the diminishing influence of organized religion in Ireland was to be found a few blocks from my hotel.

A well kept church building, no longer needed for services, had been put up for sale, lease, or rent in the middle of the city. As far as I could see, the property had been on the market for a long time. There seemed to be no interest in it.

...

That church appears to be something of a special case, given that it was formerly a Presbyterian church, probably constructed over a century ago by some well-meaning Protestants who hoped to tempt the locals (in LImerick) into abandoning Popery. I doubt it ever had much of a congregation!

I should not however be surprised to hear that some Catholic churches were on the market too. In 1972-3, 90% of Irish Roman Catholics attended church weekly. In 2011, only 30% did:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_i ... of_Ireland

[_Maksutov]

Secularism became linked in the public imagination with the benefits of urban modernity and religion was relegated to an association with the poverty of the rural past.

Evidence of the diminishing influence of organized religion in Ireland was to be found a few blocks from my hotel.

A well kept church building, no longer needed for services, had been put up for sale, lease, or rent in the middle of the city. As far as I could see, the property had been on the market for a long time. There seemed to be no interest in it.



Some on this board have openly speculated about what would happen to Mormon chapel buildings once attendance falls off to the point that they can no longer be supported financially.

They would certainly make great community / senior citizen centers.

A same-sex wedding reception center could make very good use of it. Have you seen some of the churches in Provincetown?

[_DrW]

That church appears to be something of a special case, given that it was formerly a Presbyterian church, probably constructed over a century ago by some well-meaning Protestants who hoped to tempt the locals (in Limerick) into abandoning Popery. I doubt it ever had much of a congregation!

I should not however be surprised to hear that some Catholic churches were on the market too. In 1972-3, 90% of Irish Roman Catholics attended church weekly. In 2011, only 30% did:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_i ... of_Ireland

Except for the conversations regarding the referendum, which were more political than religious, religion was hardly mentioned in my presence. The place seems quite secular and no one seems the least bit interested in your religious affiliation, which was refreshing.

Even though Limerick and the west coast are still a bit of a backwater compared to greater Dublin, it still had the look and feel of a prosperous Western European country.

I tried, but could not find any religious broadcasts on the radio while driving through the countryside. This was a welcome contrast to the American Midwest and South, where every other station you can pick up while driving is some religious broadcaster preaching his or her version of God's Word nonsense and asking for money to do so.

Having never been there, I expected the Republic of Ireland to look and feel like Northern Ireland, and perhaps something like the Midlands or North of England, but found it to be more like Northern Germany. The factories were mainly new and well designed (and included lots of American pharma and tech companies). Public places were very clean and tidy. Motorways were well built and had no speed limit and many of the cars (ours included) were routinely doing 90 - 100+ MPH for long stretches (and we were still being passed occasionally).

Most gratifying, rank and file folks there are concerned for the environment and the government is doing something about it. Environmental preservation is another "liberal idea" that is doing very well in what many still feel is conservative Catholic Ireland.

[_Quasimodo]

In the center of Hull is a statue of William III, oddly standing above public restrooms. The locals call it King Billy. Occasionally, on St. Patrick's eve, unknown persons will spray paint it green.

Appologies for the derail.

Yes, but they are VERY classy public lavatories:

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk ... WNpwabfAng

He is not exactly 'over' the facilities: they were constructed later, to the north of the statue:

http://gohistoric.com/places/652154-pub ... -upon-hull

A slight correction:
http://www.urinal.net/king_william/



The last time I was there the water tanks above the urinals had fish in them. The poor little guys ran out of water whenever someone flushed. Laying on their sides, gasping until the tank refilled. How horrible it must be to live in fear of someone coming in to take a leak.

[_mackay11]

I studied abroad in Ireland, but most of my interactions there were with students and musicians, and an admittedly-liberal bunch. I'm glad to know that they are not the exception in their attitudes.

Given your avatar, this bit of personal information is hardly surprising.

Kidding aside, I find the Republic of Ireland to be a friendly country with a beautiful countryside and warm, friendly (if sometime strongly opinionated) people.

Wish I could say the same for Northern Ireland. Last time I was in Belfast, I was arrested and detained by the British Army for simply taking pictures. They released me (after confiscating all my film) when I was finally able to convince them that my wife and infant child were stuck in our VW van with no food and little water. (It was illegal at the time to leave a car unoccupied along the streets near the downtown area - which area was barricaded off and guarded by British Troops.) Northern Ireland is still a social and economic wreck compared to the Republic.

Umm... Except Aoife's Avatar is Scottish.

Just sayin'

We celts love each other a lot... But Irish is not Scottish :)

[_DrW]

I studied abroad in Ireland, but most of my interactions there were with students and musicians, and an admittedly-liberal bunch. I'm glad to know that they are not the exception in their attitudes.

Umm... Except Aoife's Avatar is Scottish.

Just sayin'

We celts love each other a lot... But Irish is not Scottish :)

Understand - I saw the movie too. But Aoife self-identified as being of Irish descent. And as you indicated, Celts is Celts.

Although most think of Irish women as having dark hair with fair skin and blue eyes, there are more than a few auburn to redheads with beautiful green eyes in Ireland - trust me.

[_Quasimodo]

Umm... Except Aoife's Avatar is Scottish.

Just sayin'

We celts love each other a lot... But Irish is not Scottish :)

Aoife is a very old Irish feminine name. What's the problem?

[_malkie]

Umm... Except Aoife's Avatar is Scottish.

Just sayin'

We celts love each other a lot... But Irish is not Scottish :)

Aoife is a very old Irish feminine name. What's the problem?

Just don't make the mistake of calling us "English": that's jist askin fur sumdy tae pi' the hied oan yi.