Ian Paisley...

[sandyRoe]

He's been admitted to hospital and the family have gathered at his bedside.
What memories, if any, do you have of him?

[B00]

not that much, except I hear his name and think "1970's"....

[naomi24]

He always seemed a horrible old man to me.

[Zacs-Master]

His delivery was a little aggressive but at least he was passionate and a true statesman, even if you disagreed with his policiies. Not like the namby pamby politically correct politicians of today.

[rowanwitch]

Always wondered how a man could hold so much anger... In an earlier age he may have ended up a fire and brimstone preacher

[Zacs-Master]

Rowan.....he WAS a fire and brimstone teacher. Vehemently anti gay etc etc.

[Zacs-Master]

Preacher, sorry.

[naomi24]

That's how I think of him Rowan - angry - bordering on demented - always thumping and shouting.

[rowanwitch]

I wonder how differently Irelands recent history would have played out without him?

[hippyhoppy]

When I see the name Ian Paisley all I hear is 'I can't hear youse' very loudly in my head.. however, if 1970's is more accurate, I've obviously made that up as I was an innocent tot in that decade...!

[Ankou]

i was pondering this when i heard the news.

from my memories of seeing him on news clips and various interviews and speeches he came across as a loud self righteous spitting fist-waving bully.

i suppose that could be confused for passion and utilitarian.

[lankeela]

I am amazed he lived to tell the tale, thought someone would have bumped him off years ago.

[chrissa1]

"NEVER, NEVER, NEVER".

[john1066]

Sitting in my taxi on the taxi rank...He walked by with his minders,,,,,Looked like Al Capone out on job.....

[flobadob]

Trouble(s)maker.

[Ankou]

exactly john, very much had the dodgey gangster thing going on.

[john1066]

"a job"

[john1066]

Hi Ankou...Is that a self-portrait?

[Davethedog]

A religious bigot whose lack of condemnation of violence exacerbated, promoted and probably prolonged the "troubles"

[EDDIE51]

I remember a story about him complaining in parliament that the cost of Italian tinned tomatoes was being kept artificially low so as to penalise Irish tomato farms, he said that ''higher authority'' in Italy must be behind it.
The Speaker asked him '' Mr Paisley ,surely you are not suggesting that the Holy Father( Pope) is manipulating the price of tinned tomatoes to disadvantage Northern Irish farmers?''
Ian Paisley replied '' You have got it in one your Honor''