Concert of horns, singing in a stadium, insults … This is how some Irish reacted to the announcement of the death of Elizabeth II, Thursday, September 8. A new illustration of the strained ties between the island and England.
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Ireland gained independence in 1922 following a two-year war that claimed hundreds of lives, including civilians. It became the Republic of Ireland in 1937. But one territory, Northern Ireland, remained attached to the United Kingdom. It was the scene of violent clashes throughout the 20th century between the Irish Republicans and the Loyalists, defenders of the monarchy.
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At the heart of this conflict, the city of Derry where, on January 30, 1972, a demonstration for civil rights was violently repressed. The British army shot and killed 14 independence activists. This is called the bloody sunday which took place during the reign of Elizabeth II.
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At the news of his death, residents of Derry gathered in the streets. On a video posted on Instagram, we see dozens of cars passing by, honking their horns. An Irish flag flutters from the window of a vehicle. Some people climb on the roof of the surrounding buildings. In another video shot in Derry during a concert, the crowd chants “fuck the Queen, fuck the Queen”.
Derry City, Ireland. #celebrations #queen #QueenElizabeth #QueenElizabethII #irishtwitter pic.twitter.com/lXNilYU0xs
— Bobby (@bobbysands81) September 8, 2022
But it’s not just in Northern Ireland that some are rejoicing. In Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland, chants against the Queen of England broke out during a Europa League match. A meeting between the Shamrock Rovers and the Swedes of Djurgårdens at Tallaght Stadium. On a video posted on the social network Snapchat, we see the platform singing “Lizzy in a Box” on the air of give it up by KC & the Sunshine Band. Which can be translated as “Lizzy (Elizabeth’s nickname in English) in a box”. Understand: a coffin.
Tallaght stadium in Dublin tonight pic.twitter.com/FhHtoVGT1L
— Dublin Bhoy (@dublincelticfan) September 8, 2022
These videos were then posted on Twitter and re-shared several thousand times with amused, even admiring comments. Some Internet users from other Commonwealth countries, formerly colonies of England, explain that they join the feeling of revenge of the Irish against the British Crown.