Bill Hicks on Belfast, N. Ireland

[evade531]

fuck northern ireland, southern ireland seems much better

[thing88]

Fuck sake you cant even watch a Bill hicks video with out some twat arguing about what northern ireland is part of :Z

[thing88]

Northern Ireland dun dun dundundun!

[jorgybear42]

Funny, Northern Ireland comedians (or any other kind of entertainer for that matter) would say something similar if they'd just done a gig in America, and had to come back to some middle-of-nowhere dive at home.

[nilbud]

@jorgybear42 No that doesn't follow at all. It takes a special lack of intelligence to see the general in the specific.

[jorgybear42]

@nilbud You're an entertainer then? You've experienced playing to a foreign crowd who loves everything you do? And then coming home to an unnappreciative local crowd who simply refuse to be entertained no matter what you do? No, thought not.

[TheConall]

What imagine yah had the chance da c bill here belfast that would have been unreal

[wnesbitt1]

Love the line: staring at me like a dog that's just been shown a dog trick....

[Kullg4r]

Adolf's Comedy Bunker

HAHAHA

[FloatyClaire]

Love Bill Hicks. Love Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK, whatever we call ourselves, we rock :D

[FloatyClaire]

love bill hicks and love ireland, northern island the uk and whatever we call ourselves cos we all rock :)

[Coolguyrob2006]

Nationalism and patriotism are outdated principles anyway.

[TheKeithK83]

@Coolguyrob2006 agreed along with Unionism, conservatism and liberalism, and all the other ism's designed to distract us from the fact that we are being screwed up the ass

[jfrogg007]

Belfast is in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland is in Ireland, and also in the UK.

I'm from Northern Ireland. I'm British. And I'm Irish. And I'm Northern Irish too.

When the football's on, I support N Ireland and R o Ireland.

If someone asks "are you British?" i say "yes."

If someone asks "are you Irish?" i say "yes."

If someone asks "are you N Irish?" i say "yes."

Its not hard. I don't feel any conflict. People need to get out of the stoneage.

[69ohara]

people from northern ireland dont know where they belong, ireland got raped by england and people from the north are the afterbirth......

[AnarchicJ]

@69ohara, That was a bit strong...it's more often than not the ruling class from one country that performs the metaphor you mentioned on another. If you read some English social history you'll see that the English have been buggered by the English ruling class for alot longer than anyone. Maybe not as badly, but for a hell of alot longer.

[69ohara]

@AnarchicJ ah im just jokin buddy, i just left that comment to get a rise out of some people, i dont actually feel that way bout people from the north! :)

[AnarchicJ]

@69ohara, fair enough. wasn't offended. take it easy mate. J

[MrDarkcatify]

hicks got it wrong we are northern irish not irish don,t get me wrong he is funny and northern ireland is part of britain and it is the best

[ImElvis666]

@MrDarkcatify Northern Ireland is not part of Britain. It's part of the United Kingdom. Britain is an island across the Irish sea. Also many people there do not consider themselves Northern Irish but simply Irish, they have a choice as per the Good Friday Agreement.

[cofpaddy]

@ImElvis666 Couldn't've said it better myself

[Getaliferdietrying]

The shit won't finish until the island unites, fact. Anyone with a problem can go back to their 'mainland' from where their corrupt ancestors came to claim their spoils of colonisation and charged rent to the locals. Deserved to be shot. The new colonists r the multinationals, forcing the third world to make their products for little return n bringing the profits back to the wealthy.

[mentalillnesstalking]

Mention any innocuous thing about Ireland on a message board on any site or video and it will immediately become a 2 year long debate about the troubles. What the fuck folks? Everybody just cut the shit.

[HadoukevMoongoose]

We still miss you Bill

[JackStaplesButler]

Only to return to Adolf's Comedy Bunker.

Why is this man not with us now?

[KphexTwin00]

Bill Hicks is the best !

[methodinsane]

Who the fuck dislikes this?

[dethbed77]

The six counties are part of Ireland, anyone who went to school will know this, the British set up the six counties without the will of the Irish people, it is a terrorist state and will be part of Ulster again. The real Ulster, the ancient ulster, province or Ireland. So Northern Ireland is not even a country...its six counties of Ireland that is being held by the British without the will of the Irish. But the tide is turning.

[stevietsuvideos]

can we have at least one video without talking about the troubles?

[MrRulebritannia]

This American chap has an excellent sense of humour, and this is the first time I've seen him. As for the tirade of semi-literate balderdash below, may I, as someone with a long proven Anglo-Saxon geneology from the gentler pastures of the Home Counties , make something clear?

To the so called Unionists here. there is no damn way on earth that you qualify as British. We in England do not regard you as British. You have lived in Ireland since the 17th century. You are IRISH now!

[CrapOfTheWorld]

@MrRulebritannia Britain refers to the UK. Great Britain refers to the largest island in the British Isles. People in Northern Ireland are citizens of the UK, so we're British in terms of nationality regardless of how England sees us. Just as those in Scotland are Scottish and British so too are we in Northern Ireland (Northern) Irish and British.

[Highwaycrazy]

@CrapOfTheWorld No you're not. My Irish friends live in Derry and they applied for an Irish passport with their Derry address. They are now Irish citizens living in Co Derry. Enjoy your settler status while it lasts.

[CrapOfTheWorld]

@Highwaycrazy What's your point? I have an Irish passport and a British passport. We can claim dual citizenship, but if you're born in Northern Ireland you have British citizenship only. You have to perform an action that only Irish citizens can perform (for example applying for an Irish passport or driving licence) in order to be granted Irish citizenship. If you do this, you have both Irish AND British citizenship, which I'm guessing your friends in Derry have. In order to become an Irish

[CrapOfTheWorld]

@CrapOfTheWorld citizen exclusively, you have to renounce your British citizenship, which means you have to go through a lengthy and complex legal procedure, and pay £208 in fees. I don't know why you're debating this. It's not a matter of opinion, it's a matter of fact. Nor can I understand why you think I have 'settler status'.

[Highwaycrazy]

@CrapOfTheWorld WRONG! If you did a little research on the ''Good Friday Agreement'', you would learn that, if you are born in any part of the 6 counties, you are still 100% eligible to obtain an Irish passport (and vice versa). Once you receive your Irish passport, it gives your address in Co Derry or any other part of the 6 counties.

[CrapOfTheWorld]

@Highwaycrazy Yeah, I know. I didn't say anything that disputes any of what you just said. Read what I said and try again.

[dm8ns]

You refer to the island of Ireland, you neglect the fact that within 'Ireland' exists two seperate states, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, if you think it's one country then you sir are mistaken. :)

[padraic2001eire]

@dm8ns If that comment was aimed at me, then save your energy next time and don't bother telling me things I already know. I used the prefix "the island of" Ireland because Bill Hicks refers to Belfast as being in Ireland in this clip, not Northern Ireland. So in a way, I was more considerate to the population of Northern Ireland by placing the prefix "the island of" in the title for this video. And if you want to pick a fight with someone, scroll down the comments and pick it with someone else.

[dm8ns]

@padraic2001eire

It's cool mate, sometimes its hard to determine the tone in a text based environment, my comment was not intended with any malicious intent. (Hence the smiley lol) Yeah I just get a bit frustrated when people neglect the status of Northern Ireland, as this guy clearly does, I was actually speaking about him lol, should have pointed that out!! I would just like to see a progressive Northern Ireland and I feel for that to come around people need to begin accepting its status :).

[padraic2001eire]

@dm8ns No worries, man. I don't think Hicks' phrasing of "Belfast, Ireland" stemmed from any animosity towards Northern Ireland's constitutional status, but more from the fact that there are many, extremely sentimental Catholic Irish-Americans (as opposed to Ulster-Scots/Scotch-Irish Americans) and if they hear he's played a gig in "Ireland" it seems like some exotic, romantic place, whereas if he said he played a gig in the UK, they'd probably think "Britain? Meh, big deal".

[dm8ns]

@padraic2001eire

Yeah, I get you, its strangely refreshing to have a light hearted discussion with someone online, who I assume has an opposing opinion to me, regarding the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. I have to admit though, it does bug the hell out of me when people call Northern Ireland, "Ireland" lol..... But anyway, good talking with you mate :).

[padraic2001eire]

@dm8ns I actually don't have an opposing opinion to you regarding Northern Ireland's constitutional status. I fully respect the right of Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom as long as that's what most people who live there want: after all, all of Ireland democratically approved the Good Friday Agreement, which was enshrined with that principle. I just wish unionist voters in Northern Ireland didn't repudiate being called Irish with such vitriol.

[dm8ns]

@padraic2001eire

Of course it was and research suggests that the majority of citizens within Northern Ireland intend to preserve its status within the Union (including Catholic citizens). I would regard myself as a Unionist but would never see myself as Irish,  if you're curious about identity among Unionists you're more than welcome to send me a message, and I'll hit you up on msn... or something...

[padraic2001eire]

@dm8ns Did you happen to check out the David Ervine clip I sent you? If that Ulsterman and loyalist can say people should "stop this nonsense about not being Irish", I think it should be easier for other Northern Ireland unionists to do so. To be Irish isn't to be Catholic, or anti-British, or nationalist. Edward Carson was a Dubliner, remember.

[soneil70]

@dm8ns what do u think the reasons are unionists wont join with the rest of ireland

[brianwilson49]

god bless bill hicks.

as a limey i would like to thank our yankee cousins for supplying the world's greatest comic and visionary for our entertainment and enlightenment.

thanks.

the docu movie is great btw.

:-) x

[ExCowboy1985]

I love the way he really emphasizes ''Ireland' at the start'. I think that shows he considered the issue.

[vegaspoet]

Ron Shock will be posting The Hicks Chronicles, which are stories of Ron and Bill back in the day !! great fun !!! watch them !!!

[WastedTourist]

Now to think of it he was probably told a lie by some scheming, disingenuous Belfastonian. Arrogant, obnoxious, nasty, nasal voiced fuckers. No coincidence that Ulster's greatest men and women come from outside the so called capital.

[WastedTourist]

Since when did Wilde perform in Belfast? I doubt that very much.

[Beestroker]

And Dennis Laery doesn't fuck all men, by the way.......but someone said he does suck 'em off down his local jigger, whilst robbing their life's work though......I don't know who said it, I'm only telling you what I heard, like.

[YUG74]

Its pretty obvious what he's saying..wonder if he ever came to in Dublin..I don't think we would have been too conservative to his stuff even in the early 90s..

[albumflaps]

I am from Belfast, it is most definitely part of this planet. Ireland, Northern Ireland, who cares?? Just listen to Bill and fuck up already.

[tdp1909]

There would probably be no Northern Ireland if it weren't for Parnell having an affair. Let's hope the sex was worth it!

[fearforfree]

Just get over it!! National Identity is bullshit on an island of parents' children exacerbating hate for eternity. 'Erase all the lines'

[bluenapalm123]

Again, im not talking about history. Belfast is in Northern Ireland. People seem to revert to history and say its not true. I am neither Irish nor British. Im n.irish :)

[padraic2001eire]

You say you are neither Irish nor British, but N. Irish. Fair enough. But if you lived where you live now prior to partition, when there was no such state as Northern Ireland, what would you have called yourself? Just wondering, not trying to have a fight with you or anything.

[bluenapalm123]

well id have to be over 500 years old.. but thats obvious.. cause it was part of ireland as a whole. Irish :)

[padraic2001eire]

No, not 500 years (unless that was an exaggerration for comic effect). Partition only happened in 1921, before that, all of Ireland was a unit. So I presume your grandparents or great-grandparents were born prior to partition.

Hell, even Ian Paisley once said, "I would never repudiate the fact that I am an Irishman".

[bluenapalm123]

"Just wondering, not trying to have a fight with you or anything. " bollox

What bill hicks said was incorrect. Belfast is in the country of N.Ireland.

A State is an interchangable definition with country.

N.Irelands borders were "defended by the british army" (not something i like however), this defines a country.

Self governing State defines a country.

Belfast is part of the nation of Ireland. Any numbskull would understand that Bill hicks in this video was refering to country.

[padraic2001eire]

Dude, I don't know why you're having that attitude, I wasn't trying to have a fight with you, I was just asking you a question, and by the way, you're last comment had nothing to do with what I asked you.

Might the reason you are so defensive on the subject have anything to do with the fact the majority of people outside of Britain and Ireland, especially Americans, do not understand the minutiae of Ireland's history and therefore consider people who live on the island of Ireland to be Irish?

[dm8ns]

@padraic2001eire ----- I'm the same as napalm, obviously prior to partition we would have declared ourselves as Irish, since at that point 'Ireland' was part of the union. The thing is in Northern Ireland you are equally entitled to declare yourself as either British or Irish (In my opinion this alienates a lot of people from both sections of the community). However, you cannot deny the existence of Northern Ireland, purely due to a personal constitutional preference.

[humanshieldchorus]

wow i didn't know that. must be talking about the ulster hall then?

[ExtraStripe]

Isn't this a Bill Hicks video?

[feonor26]

Bill Hicks...deeply missed...a great teacher and a fenomenal preacher. Wish you had time to come to Norway too...

[norniron0]

Bill Hicks was an original and exceptional talent. As a Belfast man I'm proud of him name-checking his gig in my city - he obviously had a good time. I CANNOT believe there is some prick here wittering on about the IRA, the Brits and the RUC!! Get yourself a girlfriend or a cat or a good book to read FFS!

[jacksawild]

@norniron0 It's amazing the lack of Irish history they teach in UK schools. Of course, when I say amazing, I mean sick. I went through the entire school system and I don't think Oliver Cromwell was mentioned, if he was, it was in passing. Very odd, considering how important he was in our own history. That is a simple, yet devastating single example among a multitude. I would say the state school system's biggest mistake was teaching me how to read, and therefore reveal their agenda.

[TheTruthSlave]

@jacksawild oh i like you, u sound enlightened :)

[buckybee76]

@norniron0 thumbs up x10000000000000000000

[marshmallowbabys]

i wonder when this was taken someone else said what i was about to say that belfast probably wan't that safe at the time.... i can't imagine him up there... i thought he was going to say something about the troubles... that would have been hilarious..

[marrow777]

hey we don't know what to say either LOl Great to see yu like Hicks though, he is a legend!!

[methodinsane]

I got the humour, obviously the people giving you the thumbs down didn't!

[CharitableView]

It's been said way too many times..but i realy do wonder what Bill in heaven thinks of everything that's gpin on....

[methodinsane]

I hardly imagine he's in heaven, wouldn't quite fit his belief system lol, we'll leave that to the fundamental christians - and before some religious head comes along and gives out I was referring to Hicks opinion!

[tcdude001]

i second that - nice uploadin, uploader

[bollockowithalob]

A nice upload - many thanks.

Me was lucky enough to bump into the great Bill Hicks, in the launderette of the University of Leicester, England, May 1992. He came in for change for the ciggie machine (which I gave to him). We had a nice chat, and me shook his hand (twice). You could tell he was glad to be recognized especially by a student with a book. Of course, I ran upstairs and bought a ticket.

The best standup, ever - bar fuckin' none.

Best wishes, uploader.

[simplelife88393]

Jelous, that's a great story.

[methodinsane]

Says alot about Ireland.  We are reknowned for our fantastic crowds at all events (of course the fact that Bill Hicks all those years ago, before the 'Net was ripe, could draw 900 people into a theatre like that says something for the free and forward thinking of Irish people - that is the free and forward thinking ones).

[THEDWARVESMUSTDIE]

could also say that there's not a lot going on in Ireland, i'm joking - beautiful country

[marrow777]

Hey watch it mister!!!

[jackhartcup]

where was this and is there a full version?

[padraic2001eire]

This was taken from a documentary about Hicks called "Outlaw Comic". You can watch it in its entirety on youtube. I'm not sure where this footage was shot, presumably somewhere in the US.

[CharitableView]

I agree but you must admit Belfast, Ireland sounds odd. Reminds me of the story about some band playing in Belfast (think it may have been Bon Jovi) where they were drinking before the show and some local punter persuaded the lead singer to shout "Up the IRA" on stage...did not go well!!

[Rudisheisse]

That was Megadeth in the Antrim Forum in about '88. I was there. The crowd were trying to get on stage to kill the singer. Still, he was a drunken troublemaker in those days and probably loved it!

[DanielQkillerD]

too right Hicks, we love you :)

[shenanigan55]

Thats interesting, i find it hard to imagine Bill Hicks performing in pre cease fire Belfast. Would of loved to hear his opinion on that.

[cdc2346]

he played in the Mandela Hall . my friend had seen him on t.v. a few weeks B.4. but i had never heard of him....3 of us went funny as hell !

[EddieSpecs]

what venue at Queen's? Whitla hall?

[cdc2346]

he played in Queens ...

[EddieSpecs]

Do you know what venue in the University?

[moochcassidy202]

never knew he played here. sounds like it was The Empire

thanks for posting

[Norbeone]

Would love to have seen him in my home of Ireland!