r/newry • u/Sirenofslatecity • Apr 18 '26

Head the ball Parade and donations

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Parked the car and walked to our regular Chinese takeaway last night. While waiting for my order 2 of the parade lads came in with a bucket for donations, set it on the counter. Demanded that the lady should make a donation. She said no- due to the amount of customers she had to turn away yesterday, she lost income as the road was closed for the parade. They became threatening and told her she needs to donate to local people or there “will be consequences”

Is it not enough that the roads are closed to local business but workers and owners are also being threatened like this? I don’t care if people want to march but im sick of this shite

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u/ForwardTourist6079 Apr 19 '26

Yet they still bring UDA and UVF bands to Derry. What exactly does Derry get from "The Deal"? Seems very one sided.

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u/VeryDerryMe Apr 19 '26

I worked in the city centre for the best part of 10 years when I was younger. Before any agreements. Every August and every December , listening to them spout their shite, and having to deal with the bitter Coleraine oxygen thieves. Now? Whenever Im home around august or Christmas, I listen to those bands, even the UVF ones, and all I hear is 'thank you for letting me march, Mr Irishman'. Not all benefits are tangible. The first plantation city, the first post reformation Anglican Cathedral, the walls that are a symbol of the unionist siege mentality. They belong to us now. 

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u/GoldGee Apr 19 '26

I would prefer it if it was a city for all.

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u/VeryDerryMe Apr 19 '26

And I would have preferred not to receive abuse at 17 years of age simply for being Irish and a load of inbred arseholes felt the need to denigrate me and mine in our home town on their annual hate fest, with their repeated (to this day) expressions of support for the murderers from Bloody Sunday. So excuse me if Im not quite there yet on the live and let live scale. Respect is earned, and Unionism in Derry hasn't even acknowledged the concept, never mind tried to work towards it. So excuse us our foibles, but a lot of us aren't changing.