Right or wrong?

[Duncer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...d-foyle-west-19554696

Personally I don't really care as nationality bores me to tears when it is traduced to political bickering, but this does seem a little petty

[jno]

I suppose it's a bit like if an Australian medallist was based in London - he wouldn't get a gold postbox, would he?

[Duncer]

Slightly cloudier issue here though, and a very sensitive one. I don't suppose anyone asked the athete himself?

[jno]

he's made his decision - compete for Ireland. The PO have made their decision on that basis. He's living in one country and competing for another; the PO is honouring those who compete for GB, not those who live there.

[Duncer]

I fully understand that jno and, by the letter of the law, they are absolutely right, but it really wouldn't have hurt to acquiesce to the locals and slap a bit of paint on the box.

[daffy654]

I agree with jno.

[Nibble]

Sorry, duncer, but I'm with the PO on this, as he chose to represent the Republic, and their stated position on this is but the stamps and gold post boxes were specifically for gold medal winning olympian and paralympians who competed for Team GB., then I feel that the position is correct.

This is another case of we want our lives both ways, being in the UK, but not part of it, which has been the stated aims of some people in the North of Ireland for the entire duration of the partition of the island of Ireland.

[SeaJayPea]

I agree with Duncer.

[Duncer]

Nibble, your point is entirely valid as regards the PO's stance, but if you want to have things by the letter of the law then I would respectfully point out that I was referring to "Northern Ireland" not the "north of Ireland". Sorry, but that one pushes my buttons.

[Baldric]

He chose to compete for Team Ireland rather than Team GB, I don't see a problem, the criteria was clearly laid out.

[Wharton]

The Royal Mail's spokesperson couldn't get Smyth's name right so they would probably have painted the thing purple. The locals should just paint it themselves.

[Duncer]

People painting things in Northern Ireland? That's unheard of!

[Ellipsis]

The gold postboxes were for members of Team GB. The statement "If it is being done across the water, we should do it here as well" is misleading because it was done in NI as well. For example, paralympian Bethany Firth of Seaforde, NI got a gold postbox in her honour for winning 100m backstroke gold.

Team GB incorporates Northern Ireland, but not Ireland!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_GB

Team GB is the brand name used since 1999 by the British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association for their Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic team. The brand was developed after the 1996 Summer Olympics and is now a trademark of the BOA. It is meant to unify the team as one body, irrespective of each member athlete's particular sport. It forms part of a marketing strategy, where its brevity is seen as beneficial. The brand is seen as controversial by some for focussing on Great Britain, at the expense of Northern Ireland, with critics suggesting it be changed to Team UK, something the BOA has so far rejected.

[WELSHYORKIE]

<<"We are so so proud of Jason I think the community deserves a gold post box and we would love to see a gold post box in Eglinton," she said.>>
So go down to B&Q (other DIY stores are available) and buy the paint and DIY

[Nibble]

Sorry about the terminology, duncer, that wasn't my intention to push any of your buttons, my apologies for that. But, as I was saying the local inhabitants of Eglinton do seem to want everything their own way, and it doesn't seem petty as the aim of this is to celebrate the achievments of the Team GB athletes, not the athletes who happen to reside in this country.

[Duncer]

I take your point entirely, but it wouldn't have taken much to paint the box. I think they are right, strictly speaking, but it would have been a small inexpensive step to build a larger bridge.

[youngmafbog]

The Royal Mail is correct. It is to celebrate GB success. The Irish should paint a box in his home town.

[Ellipsis]

http://www.u.tv/News/...3d6-80bb-7c82e2b24728

> I'm not politically Irish or politically British. I could have gone for Britain just as easy as I went for Ireland, but at the time both people were given the opportunity and the Sports council in Ireland came on and wanted to support and help me and did whatever they could, whereas whoever was in charge of GB at the time was like 'whatever, whatever'. I'm not that bothered and it made my decision very easy, but they've helped me to get where I am today.

It's great that he lives in a supportive community and got two gold medals, and I'm sure he's a super chap, but basically he gave up on Team GB and he chose to swim for Ireland. It didn't seem to bother him much and neither should the lack of a postbox!

[Wharton]

Gimme the moonlight
Gimme the paint
And leave the rest to me
"Red & Yellow are the colours we love
The colours of Partick Thistle Football Club"
It's a Jags song and our away strip used to be pink would you believe!
If the citizens of Eglinton wake up to see this on their pillar box it's all down to you Duncer!

[Ellipsis]

> It's a Jags song

A schoolfriend created a great mondegreen from their biggest hit: "I've got your number, written on the back of my head" !!!

Mind you, I think he'd recently seen The Omen ...

[Wharton]

Are you still at school Elips, epsill, epsll (whatever the hell your name is)?