A fascinating exchange between Patrick Kielty and Tommy Tiernan last night. Kielty brings the audience and presenter to an awkward silence after challenging the "Up the 'RA" culture that has emerged in Ireland.

@PatricKielty @Tommedian Fair play to Patrick for trying to tackle the narrative that it’s just a bit of harmless republican fun.

@PatricKielty @Tommedian The default position here of @Tommedian that singing songs celebrating terrorist murderers is “harmless” is quite the eye opener for anyone who thinks there isn’t a long way to travel for true reconciliation between our people.

@PatricKielty @Tommedian Its harmless singing Up the Ra says Tommy. He's got an obvs blind eye to IRA atrocities. Note the rarely sung Billy Boys equivalent was greeted with horror. Paddy is a good exponent of the values of the intelligent everyman from NI who is sensitive to offence to both sides.

@RuthDE @PatricKielty @Tommedian An honest assessment of what the challenges are in getting a United Ireland

Challenges indeed.

@PatricKielty @Tommedian Can't put into words just how impressed I am with Patrick's words. He *gets* it. Disappointing Tommy thinks it's 'harmless', imagine saying that to Paddy - as a victim himself - if it was a song about the UVF. I hope Tommy reflected and had his perspective changed there.

@PatricKielty @Tommedian Fair play to @PatricKielty for making a point. But as soon as @Tommedian said ”Up The Ra” is harmless, @PatricKielty could have mentioned the UFF murdered his father & would Northern Irelands women's team chanting "Up The UFF" be considered harmless by @Tommedian & the audience

@PatricKielty @Tommedian Patrick Kielty is the best politician in Ireland

@PatricKielty @Tommedian Paddy gets it. I challenge anyone on our island, to watch this speech (below) and his interview with TT and not be encouraged, impressed and informed bybhis objective reasoning and logical perspective. Huge amount of admiration for him.

@PatricKielty @Tommedian I understand the point he tries to make here but that song,the words,content,meaning of it is miles apart from the sectarian bigotry of 'The Sash' and 'The Billy Boys'

@PatricKielty @Tommedian