Paul Mescal’s comments about meeting the UK’s King Charles should spark conversation about 'anti-British sentiment' in Ireland, a prominent loyalist has claimed.
During the promotion of his latest film Gladiator II, the Kildare actor was asked what it was like to meet Britain's King Charles.
"Well, I'm Irish so it's not really on my list of priorities," Mescal told Variety.
After these comments made headlines, a prominent loyalist said he hopes Ireland can have a conversation about "anti-British sentiment".
On Newstalk Breakfast, Let's Talk Loyalism member Moore Holmes said while Mescal is "entitled to feel that way", the remarks should "spark a conversation about our relationships across these islands".
"In my view it might shine a bit of a light on what many consider to be a growingly unwelcome and irrational anti-British sentiment which exists within the Republic of Ireland," he said.
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Mr Moore said in response that "not a single person alive in the Republic today has been repressed" by Britain.
“You’ve had a Free State for over 100 years - you’ve been a republic for over 75 years," he said.
"If anyone is experiencing oppression south of the border, I think they need to look a bit closer to home."
Booing
Mr Holmes said the recent booing of God Save the King is an example of "anti-British sentiment".
"You have to ask yourself; what are people seeing when they look into your country?" he said.
"I live in Northern Ireland and when I look [at the Republic] I see Irish fans booing our national anthem.
"I see Irish people singing and celebrating the death of my monarch."
He said he thinks Irish people should be "thanking" Britain instead of booing their anthem.
"It's British ships that protect Irish seas; it was British taxpayers money that bailed the Irish out of their financial crisis," he said.
This loan was repaid in 2021.
Featured images shows King Charles and Paul Mescal, via Alamy.
