I saw a remarkable sight on the TV about ten days ago. It was Enda Kenny at a specially convened meeting of the British-Irish Council. Enda was looking and talking serious stuff.
“We do not want to see a European border on the island of Ireland”. Right on, Enda. The thing is, might we have to leave it at wanting? Uh-Uh. Enda is playing hardball: “There will not be a hard border from Dundalk to Derry.”
I had to believe Enda said that, because there he was on the screen with his lips moving (less smart remarks, Virginia). But is it possible that Enda carries such weight in the EU that for him to want something (no EU border in Ireland) is for him to get it (there’ll be no hard border)? It’s difficult to say definitively; but there’s a delicious irony in the fact that it took a referendum sparked by Tory in-fighting to get Enda to use the word ‘border’ at all. I did a half-hour interview with Enda a few years’ back about Easter 1916 and the present day: the word ‘border’ never passed his lips.
Some say neither Enda nor anybody else should be using the words “border” and “poll” in the one sentence. Our First Minister Arlene Foster is notable in this regard. When it was mentioned a few years back by someone in Sinn Féin, Arlene smiled and told them to be careful what they wish for. Now that Enda’s mentioned it, she’s suggested that it’s maybe something in the Donegal Summer air has set the Taoiseach’s tongue flapping. A border poll, Arlene figures, would lead to dangerous instability. Put another way: unionists would get annoyed and maybe even angry.
I find that worrying. Not the prospect of unionists getting upset but the fact that Arlene, whom I’ve always thought of as one of Unionism’s more acceptable faces, should bat aside the very suggestion and follow up with a warning for anyone else tempted to use the term. If this is the voice of liberal unionism, what must the hardline voice sound like?
Nor was Arlene the only unionist voice and face in the news recently. As most of us know by now an incident involving the UUP MP Danny Kinahan made for some head-scratching, since Danny is something of a poster boy for liberal unionism. On 11 July, Danny posted a photograph on Twitter. It showed him holding up a big cheque for £600 with the comment: “Well done Ladyhill Bonfire Group…Donation to Meningitis NI…& great turnout from families and local groups”. So far so commendable. But directly behind Danny there towers a large bonfire waiting for the Eleventh Night torch. On its side there is a huge notice: ‘No Funding, No Culture Erosion, No Surrender’. And on top of the bonfire sits the Irish national flag.
Now I’m given to understand that Danny has since said he should have arranged for the tricolour to be removed, before the photograph was taken. What he did not say was that the tricolour should never have been there in the first place, or that he was appalled to find it there and wouldn’t dream of having his photograph taken as long as it was there, since that might suggest he was in some way in accord with such bonfire decorations. At the time of writing, the picture is still on proud display in Danny’s Twitter account.
As good Christians, Arlene and Danny are probably familiar with St Luke’s gospel: “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” Transferred to our local situation, the question might be: “If this is the line liberal unionist politicians are taking, what can we expect from those who are hardline?”
Or am I the only one hearing a note of relaxed unionist arrogance in the Summer air?
The obsession about bonfires continues.
‘about’ obviously a typo for ‘to construct and light’, MT…
“‘about’ obviously a typo for ‘to construct and light’, MT…:
No, I’m referring to this site.
MT Jude has a real bee in his bonnet about that alright do you reckon he might do an article on Republicans dirty diesel which is poisoning the country to a far greater extent?
Not to mention their 2,000+ marches every year, costing the taxpayer as well as the environment. And btw – that Twaddell thing – it’s a mirage, right?
“Not to mention their 2,000+ marches every year, costing the taxpayer as well as the environment. And btw – that Twaddell thing – it’s a mirage, right?”
Now now Jude, careful, facts can be very annoying for some Unionists. Just turn the blind eye and pretend all is well. MT’s poor heart has been weakened enough by this blog.
BTW, its 4,000 parades a year. Its doubled since the year 2000……Sinn Fein’s “Culture War” is going well…….
That’s 666.6666 marches per county. Or 87 marches per man, woman and child in Fermanagh.
Looks like SF has indeed lost the so-called cultural war.
Robert,
if and when we see Marty or other SF figure standing in front of an illegal service station and telling everyone that some of the money went to charity (perhaps Meningitis NI?) – then that would be a fair comparison…
“If and when we see Marty or other SF figure standing in front of an illegal service station and telling everyone that some of the money went to charity (perhaps Meningitis NI?) – then that would be a fair comparison…”
Well they did leap to the defence of Slab Murphy, which isn’t a million miles away. (And the contributors here, including Jude, also posted blogs in support of Murphy.)
“MT Jude has a real bee in his bonnet about that alright do you reckon he might do an article on Republicans dirty diesel which is poisoning the country to a far greater extent?”
Why not?
Smuggling is yet another evil resulting from a jurisdictional border we don’t want. Not to mention many of those involved do so with immunity from prosecution under the protection of MI5 as they are agents and informants.
Ever wondered how everyone knows where to go to buy illegal fuel except the PSNI?
Yea how dare Jude suggest Unionist politicians should avoid bonfires with Irish tricolours on them.
Clearly it’s the nationalists that have serious intolerance issues for bringing up the matter.
“Yea how dare Jude suggest Unionist politicians should avoid bonfires with Irish tricolours on them. Clearly it’s the nationalists that have serious intolerance issues for bringing up the matter.”
You miss the point. Again.
No, I think YOUVE mussed the point….again.
Not sure how I can miss my own point.
Get ready for another Summer pogrom if all this border talk is not curtailed
“Get ready for another Summer pogrom if all this border talk is not curtailed”
I would like to see them try it again, I really would.
“A border poll, Arlene figures, would lead to dangerous instability. ”
Perhaps it is time we focussed on the decommissioning of unionist paramilitaries weapons as well the mind-set of their leadership and put Stormont back on hold until it is complete.
We all know the threats and intimidation will be next. The DUP will still provide the political cover, MI5 are still recruiting on both sides and could initiate a return to violence any time they choose.
Why are the nationalist parties tolerating this behaviour and allowing this situation to continue? Are they only interested in their wages and will put up with anything to keep them in pocket?
There are some who appreciate the Summer air. During the last week, one homeless mother stated she is obliged to leave her baby with a relative in the evening as she has has no permanent abode. Some economists state that the economic outlook in Ireland is good, perhaps, if one lives in or near Dublin. It is reported that the rate of unemployment is falling. Such reports tend not to be accompanied with figures associated with economic migration.
A more telling aspect of the economic state of the country may be located in figures for homelessness and evictions. A report entitled ‘Promoting Protection of the Right to Housing – Homelessness Prevention in the Context of Evictions’ was published recently. The report showed that most evictions carried out in Ireland are in the private housing sector and that evictions are not recorded and monitored in a systematic manner.
Most people in Ireland would welcome and support the combined efforts of politicians, of all political hues, in order to tackle homelessness through a properly coordinated building programme, better to build than to burn.
End can waffle all he likes about no hard border across the island of Ireland.
But people in the UK voted for Brexit because they think it might give them some control over immigration.
And if there is no hard border in Ireland that will be impossible, as there is free movement in the EU, and so immigrants can travel from mainland Europe to Dublin, and via train to Belfast – with no passport or customs control.
So you can bet that before the UK exits the EU they will impose the border without consultation with Enda or anyone.
But of course Enda is aware of what will happen, as he is now calling up all his army reserves for border duty.
‘Unionists would get upset and maybe even angry’ – have you ever seen a unionist who hasn’t been upset and angry – its in their DNA for God’s sake!
Jude, if you ever thought that Arlene was one of the more acceptable faces of unionism, you haven’t followed her bitter bigoted career, or you’re blinded by her beauty.
your probably right about the border,but surely you cant lay the blame with the uk when its the migrants breaking the law.and if the brits pull on the custom union then enda will have checks on his side for inward goods.it will be like the good old days.
Well he hasn’t followed her bigoted career it is then!!!
‘Arlene, whom I’ve always thought of as one of Unionism’s more acceptable faces’
Nah – never saw that myself. Foster is just more adept at hiding her bigotry, racism, homophobia and hatred than Wells, Wilson, Campbell and the rest of the idiots in the DUP. Ulster Unionism is by its very nature an extreme ideology – it’s never been just about preserving the Union with Britain, we all know that its far more insidious than that.
As an aside –
http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/2016/07/25/what-would-happen-if-the-north-were-asked-to-pay-for-itself-tomorrow
“Nah – never saw that myself. Foster is just more adept at hiding her bigotry, racism, homophobia and hatred than Wells, Wilson, Campbell and the rest of the idiots in the DUP. ”
I thought Jude moderated all posts, heckling for defamatory comments?
Nothing defamatory there, MT 😉
Sometimes I do believe I live in a parallel universe.
If Brexit results in a ‘hard border’ I’ll buy a hat and eat it.
If one part of this island is in the EU and another is not, then there will have to be a customs border as it is in the terms of membership. It will also have to be manned by the republic as it is their responsibility.
So we will have Gardaí enforcing the partition of Ireland
There will also have to be passport checks between all parts of Ireland and Britain.
The only alternative will be to unite this island or for the UK to either remain in the EU or agree terms for a free movement deal.
How do you see it playing out PF or do you think there could be an alternative option?
“If one part of this island is in the EU and another is not, then there will have to be a customs border as it is in the terms of membership. It will also have to be manned by the republic as it is their responsibility.”
Not if the UK stays in the customs union. And even if it doesn’t there can be electronic unobtrusive border control.
“So we will have Gardaí enforcing the partition of Ireland”
I’d imagine it would be customs officials.
“There will also have to be passport checks between all parts of Ireland and Britain.”
Not if the Common Travel Area continues.
Jessica
If there are passport checks between all of Ireland and Britain then there will be no hard border – there will be no need for it.
I’m not sure what the governments (London and Dublin) will decide, but I can’t see either wishing to squander the gains made in the Belfast Agreement.
But if it comes down to a choice between a hard border and passport control between Larne and Cairnryan, I’d be betting on passports.
As and aside, on the point of the Belfast Agreement and the view of many here that it is a hinderance to a United Ireland, think of it this way.
If you have ever taken the Enterprise to Dublin, you will know that somewhere in the region of Malahide or Howth Junction the train slows to a crawl – but it always, always, always arrives in Connolly.
The Belfast Agreement is Howth Junction.
I agree PF
I feel that no matter what happens around the BREXIT negotiations the EU leaders will understand the sensitivities around the Irish border issues and will probably grant some sort of special dispensation.
I’m also finding myself wishing that the negotiations would start soon, for no other reason than to stop the unrelenting stream “ifs” and “buts” over what will happen. It’ll be nice to get some solid facts on the situation and until then we are simply in limbo.
We will just have to get comfortable with it for a while.
Yeah Scott lets get comfortable with the complete and utter mess left through Tory in fighting and one-upmanship. I’m sick to death reading about uncertainty and hard border or no hard border. The plain and simple truth is, while the island has two jurisdictions there is a border and for most people in Ireland its a hard to stomach border. For once Ireland has a chance to break from mother England and determine its own path, albeit in the EU. Now Scott I know you’ll retort that EU has removed sovereignty and taken laws etc etc, the tired old rhetoric of faragism. Truth of the matter is, Britain took, or rather England and Wales took, a blind leap of faith caring not on a jot for the implications it would have for the people of Ireland, yes all Ireland. It is high time we got rid of the border, hard or soft and began to move this island forward. We have so much potential! But if you’d rather get comfortable with the legacy that Tory infighting has wrought then you roll over again and let Arlene and Maggie May scratch your wee tummy.
“I’m also finding myself wishing that the negotiations would start soon, for no other reason than to stop the unrelenting stream “ifs” and “buts” over what will happen. It’ll be nice to get some solid facts on the situation and until then we are simply in limbo.”
I feel the same way about negotiations for Irish unification and discussions on how all sections of our society could come together to create one prosperous Irish nation with no preconditions one way or the other.
Whenever one feels an urgent need to find out more about such esoteric subjects as Chinese Snuff Boxes and Egyptian Papyri, Esteemed Blogmeister, one unhesitatingly heads down to the Chester Beatty Oriental Collection which is housed in the civilized Occidental surroundings of Dublin Castle.
The Perkin, happily to report, is never disappointed.
Similarly, when one experiences a pressing urge to discover more about such esoteric subjects as LOL bonfires and the visceral need of the cultural pyromaniacs who never seem to tire of piling tyres and anti-croppy insults as high as a Presbyterian spire, one automatically turns to The Unionist Times.
As this is the organ of record which has thoughtfully hired non-judgmental Northern Yoons to enlighten the slow-learners south of the Black Sow’s Dyke about the intricacies of the erm, thought processes of the well-bred Breds on the Twalfth of Forever.
It was with a keen sense of intellectual anticipation therefore that, after reading today’s blog, EB, one sought out the subtle musings of one who is completely up to snuff when it comes to broadening the restricted horizons of the southern crop of stroppy croppies.
Normally one cannot get enough of the resident fillum buff, Donald Clarke, (for it is he !), but, unhappily to report, one felt, on perusing his piece of yesterday, a certain lack of mental fulfillment. One felt no nearer understanding the enigmatic motivations of the M.O.P.E. s aka Most Oppressed Prods Ever. Not least, their insatiable urge to KTP and their seemingly inexhaustible druthers to lord it over the Others.
Sadly, rather than looking North, DC opted to look West to DC. Specifically to the response to Mrs Michelle Obama’s – married to the Boy from Monegal – stirring speech (non-plagiarised) on those who, with hod on shoulder and faith in God in heart, erected for the Elect the White House on slave wages.
-Free us from myth of US Irish slavery.
That was the headline. This was the subheading:
-Every time news arises concerning the antebellum African-American experience, the same halfwits emerge to argue the Irish had it a great deal worse.
So, rather than discovering what lurks in the unfathomable depths of the prodigious mindset of Danny Kinahan, esquire, , one was treated to yet another (yawn) airing of the Hairy One’s recent unfortunate mis-use of the N-word.
What was particular disappointing about this calling the bluff (alleged ) of GA was the somewhat inexplicable failure of the resident fillum buff of The Unionist Times to contextualize the reference. Not least because the same Donald Clarke prides himself (endlessly) on his inbred reverence for the nuanced.
While one prefers the term ‘contextualise’ (it’s a sexier word, Joxer) nonetheless The Perkin feels an irresistible urge to be a nuancy boy on this occasion.
The mis-use (alleged) in question of the N-word was used in the immediate aftermath of watching the most iconic movie of Quentn Tarantino’s career:
-Pulp Fiction.
Any factual girl who has walked barefooted along the strand at Ipanema will know it is impossible to do so without getting sand between one’s toes. So also anyone (non-gender specific) who has ever seen P.Ficiton will recognize it is equally inevitable that one will find the N-word between one’s teeth for some time after this movie.
A triumph, one would have thought, for the cinematic art rather than the dark artlessness of racism.
One is reminded of a nonsense poem (such as might be delighted in by half-wits !) of Lewis Carroll, called The Hunting of the Snark.
Now, the Snark is a mythical creature. Although asked repeatedly to explain what a Snark was, the author always replied he did not know and so could not explain. L.C. claimed it was unimaginable and he wished it to remain so.
Now, not in any spirit of sarkiness, one is always reminded of the Snark when looking North on the Twalfth.
THE DONALD
When one ‘s in the dark about the Snark
One turns for a spark to Donald Clarke
Alas and unhappible
It’s still unmappable
That ancient Orangestone National Park.
PS Mea culpa, Esteemed Blogmeister,: for Pulp Fiction read Django Unchained.
This was the Quentin Tarantino work of 2012, another masterpiece from the Big Q which appealed enormously to the more discerning fillum buffs from Termonfeckin to Effin,County Limerick.
The reason one knows this is because it was namechecked in a heavyweight yet feaherweight political quiz on RTE this very morning The class of quiz which is a seesaw between stroke of lantern jaw and guffaw..
-After watching which fillum did Gerry Adams,President of Sinn Fein, resort to the N-word?
One might be almost forgiven for deducing that RTE and its printed edition, The Unionist Times, – the Brothers Grimm of Similar Agendas – are grimly determined to play keepy-uppies with their favourite game du jour:
-Eeeny meeny miney mo
Catch this mis-use of the N-word
By the toe and never let it go.
You have to seriously wonder how our society can ever be sectarian free when you have ‘moderate’ Unionist politicians behaving like this. What is their agenda? Is it simply pandering to the bigoted Unionist Gallery? Or is it a more sinister agenda?
Its always been my opinion that a majority of Unionist politicians want sectarianism to thrive here. We know the main Unionist parties are run by the Orange Order. The Orange Order makes it perfectly clear they want sectarianism to thrive, hence the demands to parade by or even through Catholic areas, the Anti-Catholic preaching, the constant parading to cast up a Battle that occurred in the year 1690, etc. The Orange Order want to keep this whole “Protestant vs Catholic” thing alive for as long as possible.
But why? Well with Unionism its always been about religion, History (and the present) clearly shows that. Unionism to a lot of Unionists is as much about Protestant fundamentalism as it is about the Union with Britain. Unionists/Loyalists always refer to their community as the “PUL” (Protestant Unionist Loyalist) Community. They always refer to themselves mostly as “Protestants”. Their political ideas are pretty limited and crude and the root is always their version of “Protestantism”. So its hardly surprising that Unionist paramilitaries always targeted Catholic civilians, it didn’t matter, a Catholic was a justifiable target to them due to their religion. Paisley’s hatred was always directed towards the Catholic Church. He referred to Catholics as “Vermin”. Paisley’s views wasn’t all that different to those running Unionist Stormont. To Unionism its mostly a RELIGIOUS conflict, not a political one. And as we see in the Middle East, religious fundamentalism has deeper roots in a sectarian society than a political ideology would. Its very difficult to make a fanatic change their ways and views.
My belief is that Unionist politicians still view this as a religious conflict. Gerry Adams was right when he said that we don’t have peace, we just have an absence of violence. I also believe that Unionist politicians think if Protestants associate more with Catholics that that would weaken the Union and maybe cause more Protestants to question their politics and their communities views. Overall if sectarianism were to go from our society then political Unionism would lose influence over their community, it would make more Protestants listen to the views of other non-unionist political parties. As we see on the 11th July Night and especially on the lead up to elections, Unionist politicians come out to court the Unionist vote by engaging in sectarianism. How could they attract votes in a sectarian free society, where sectarianism is no longer tolerated by anyone?…..
Read Andrew Boyd’s Holy War, that should give you an insight into how far unionism has come since 19th century. ( or lack thereof)
Unionism needs sectarianism to thrive. The resultant strife ensures the respective tribes vote accordingly.
The OO have just 35,000 members island wide but has its tentacles in every political pie in NI, aided and abetted by respective governments in the Rep. They are registered as a charity in Ireland and are in receipt of 900,000 donation every year. The OO denote piddling amounts to cross – community projects and tens of thousands to British Army veterans charities and such. Probably one reason we’ll never see another Drumcree.
The analogy between Protestant fundamentalist and religious fundamentals in the middle east is a good one. For Protestants in NI, it was always a religious war and not an ethnic one as clearly shown by Arlene Foster, nee Kelly, for she is ethnically Irish as are many OO/Unionist politicians.
Their political ideology is Protestant Ascendancy in Ieland. They are the last vestiges of Europe’s 16/17th centuries religious wars. What else if the 12th about?
It’s time the Irish media in Ireland had an open and honest debate about this and British rule in general in Ireland.
And it’s time Irish politicians grew a backbone and admitted this and stop funding this religious fundamentalism to keep the sectarianism going so they don’t ever have to deal with the constitutional issue.
Going on past form and in only very recent times(take for one example of many, that good Christian gentleman, gospel singing son- of- the -salt and all round good God-fearing-egg and member of the DUP, the Rev Willie McCrea, sharing a platform with a well-known violent terrorist some few years back)…. unionism of many shades will resort to a violent path should politics fail. It’s in the DNA when all is said and done and is part and parcel of how unionism has always seemed to operate . There are so many examples that really we’d need to simply publish another history of this island .Should the UK vote to rid themselves of us …as they undoubtedly will in some future time, unionism ‘s next game -plan will be to build another border to surround some tiny lost redoubt somewhere along the Antrim coast where they will indeed cry “no Surrender” all over again.Whether or not this option will even be a viable construct will never even enter that conversation.