Also, just have to explain my feelings on the matter as well.
I grew up in the ROI, which meant horrendous Republican banter was all consuming. As I got older (post Good Friday Agreement) it started to get toned down. The responses during ‘Fields Of Athenry’ (“Sinn Fein!” “IRA”) weren’t accepted anymore. I was the first of my extended family to ever visit NI when I was a kid ( for a Scout event.) My grandparents didn’t want me to go as they were worried as to what could happen me. It was totally fine (obviously).
You know yourself, language is a powerful weapon, and even one chant of 'Ooh Ah Up The ‘RA’ is more powerful than a thousand arguments against. I saw so many peers of mine succumb to that lunkheaded point of view. There was even an IRA training camp in the mountains above my hometown for a few years before it got busted.
I suppose what I’m trying to say is that I haven’t seen or heard that phrase in a long time and I got a bit rattled. Thanks for apologising dude, I really do appreciate it,