Picture by Antrim Lens
Ireland’s peace process is undoubtedly one of the most successful there has ever been in human history, if not the most, and that is something we should be proud off. That is, until I realised that statement isn’t even true.
While the peace process has indeed been successful in Northern Ireland, can we really say the same in Southern Ireland?
In the north, Sinn Fein and the DUP are making a real effort at keeping the coalition executive together and pursuing reconciliation. Ok, the heating scheme foo-pah was a major embarrassment for Arlene, but in real terms it won’t cost 400 million, ironically EU legislation helps prevent such errors from local governments costing the public and will allow a settlement based on a reasonable threshold which will reduce the overall loss.
The point is, Sinn Fein did not seek to capitalise on it, why not?
The only answer I can see is they are putting the peace process first and to attack the DUP over this would hardly have cemented reconciliation.
The conflict was started over lack of trust and unwarranted but very real fears. These fears are a result of historical context and very much involved the whole of Ireland, probably more so the south. Yet it is difficult to imagine either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail being so gracious in similar circumstances.
Why is that?
Do they feel that Southern Ireland had nothing to do with the conflict and we are simply a rowdy neighbour devaluing their property over our uncivilised conduct.
Oh wait, many do feel this way, which is often how it is presented in the southern media.
I guess the south did get off lightly in the conflict. Thatcher’s threat to bomb Dundalk got them in line and with the IRA not allowing the targeting of Gardaí or free state forces, they suffered minimal comparative casualties. It still doesn’t make it a northern problem, they chose to wash their hand of us and abandon us to pursue their own best interests. The conflict is the same age old conflict that they have managed to escape.
Fianna Fail have dominated politics in the south, the republic is now their country, they are the republican party, for those who support a 26 county republic at least.
Then there is Fine Gael who would happily take us back into the UK one day I believe. The UK will spend years writing EU legislation into the statute books in order to end EU membership. They will recoup the cost in the long run, outsourcing their services to other nations who will eventually follow suit and choose to exit.
Fine Gael would do one better, the cute hoors that are, they will milk the EU while they are in it, and when it is time to leave, simply join the UK and not have to worry about all the legislation. Sovereignty isn’t a big thing for them after all.
Then you have Sinn Fein who threaten Fianna Fail the most with their 32 county republic ideals. Not only that, but they are refusing to play politics the way the civil war parties do, they are not confirming to the 26 county way of doing things. Two faced and backstabbing.
I am not going to get into whether or not victims have been used for party political gain. Everyone should make up their own minds with what sits well for them on that.
What is interesting though, is that Sinn Fein even after losing grass roots votes in the north for being too soft on the DUP attacks and putting reconciliation first, have not adopted the civil war parties approach and continued with doing the right thing whether they lose votes from grass roots or not.
Now in the south, they are likewise refusing to stop doing whatever is in their power to bring closure to all victims including the families of the Dublin Monaghan bombings and they are taking it on the chin any drop in the polls over Michael Martins relationship with Mr Stack who presented him with the 4 names that broke confidentiality to which neither have denied.
The other parties and indeed the media in the south, simply cannot comprehend why Gerry Adams is still there. I keep hearing about how much better off in the polls they would be if he stepped aside.
The truth is, that is all the southern establishment can understand. It is all about opinion polls, the importance of the media, keeping power and they will do anything to hold on to it.
The peace process is nothing more than an influx of votes from the north which could destabilize their monopolies.
Sinn Fein may well lose votes, but I have more respect for them for putting peace first, not bending to biased media pressures and taking the risks that they do.
And you never know, the polls may get it wrong just as they did with Brexit and with Trump.
One thing is for sure, a united Ireland has to be on the back burner as I believe many would not want anything to do with the corrupt little state that the 26 county republic has become.
This corruption and rot has to go and the new Ireland needs major reform
There might be peace but there certainly isn’t any process are progress towards a United people are country, the good Friday agreement is a complete failure
1, we still have hundreds of hate marchs in our town’s and villages, which haven’t been addressed are never will be
2, not one British are UDR solider brought to justice for war crimes
3, not one ruc , police officer brought to justice for war crimes
4, bigitory is very much a live a well
5, we still can’t vote for our president
6, not one inch have England moved in giving back what is rightfully ours
7, we always have to bend the knee to appease the British
Just a few examples of what people are thinking about on the ground
I agree with all of your points Liam.
My problem is with who people are blaming.
A lot of the frustration seems to be vented against Sinn Fein, whereas I feel that Dublin is doing fuck all about them, and instead attacking the only party that is actually making any effort just to influence opinion polls and for their selfish party political benefits.
I don’t think this is acceptable.
They are taking the disenfranchisement of second rate Irish in the north to completely new levels.
I am angry and frustrated, but my ire is focussed towards Dublin.
Any talk of a united Ireland is absolutely worthless without buy in from Dublin
I agree, the GFA is dead and we now need to explore other options including reunification of Ulster or even new boundaries for partition if that is what Dublin wants, that are not linked to provincial counties but on economic and social need
And what might justify a new partition that didn’t justify the old partition in the first place?
Having said that, Ireland hasn’t always been United anyway so I suppose there is precedent.
Throwing away 19 billion of tax payers money to Apple?
Dublin rule prioritising Dublin and neglecting the rest of Ireland in particular the border counties, never mind ignoring its people in the north.
Name one thing Dublin has done post GFA to show any interest in an unpartitioned Ireland?
It wasn’t until recent decades that I realised Ireland wasn’t united, and I don’t mean 6 counties being under british rule, I mean how divided our people have become.
A united Ireland is now a pipedream, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael with their establishment media have destroyed any hope of a united Ireland.
Sinn Fein are the ONLY party with any interest and they will throw everything against them.
They are the biggest obstacle to a united Ireland.
A more favourably partitioned Ireland would have economic benefits, doesn’t make it any more justifiable, but what is the alternative. Eternal stagnation and playing second fiddle to a bunch of hypocrites who look down their noses at us?
Jessica
I must apologise for linking the reply to these of your comments to the ones below about the number of counties in a newly partitioned.
My amazement to two-fold.
First, I had always thought there was no appetite at all for any kind of partition, and secondly, I’m wondering what could possibly justify partition in your opinion.
What if, for example, one of these new ‘Independent Irelands’ (and what would we call each of them anyway?) decided it wanted to be connected to a newly independent Britain? And what if it called itself ‘Eastern Ireland’, or ‘West Britain’, or, well, ‘Northern Ireland’.
Wouldn’t we all just be in the same position we’re in now.
Honestly, this suggestion is simply confusing.
And given the options discussed, personally this unionist would prefer a United Ireland with significant independence linked to agreed cooperation in a federal Britain and Ireland with national governments in each constituent part.
Does that make me more of a ‘United Irelander’ than you?
Quite possibly Peter.
Yes, I agree partition will be hurting both economies, but much moreso the north and in both jurisdictions
So long as Dublin is doing ok, it doesn’t really give a shit about anyone outside of Dublin, not least the north
I would imagine if a sizable chunk of the country became sufficiently unhappy then you may find the GFA could well accommodate a permanent northern Ireland and southern Ireland within the EU.
I would have to agree with you that my preference would also be for a United Ireland and if britain can cooperate with the truth and reconciliation process, I would welcome stronger links between both islands.
These are only my views though, not sure who else would feel this way
So let me get this straight Jessica.
You want a independent Northern Ireland (6 counties) with a opt in via I assume a referendum for the 3 other counties of Ulster (Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan) to form a completely independent nature perhaps simply called Ulster?
Well I’ll give you credit if it’s nothing else it’s certainly radical.
Not quite Scott
A 6 county state would simply not be economically viable and would have no chance of buy in.
What I am saying is that the GFA would allow for more than one option of self determination for the Irish people.
Dublin has no interest in Ireland beyond Dublin and partition has not effected it as badly as the northern half of the country.
Can you imagine the shake up it would cause the establishment if the top half of the country started talking seriously about breaking away?
Perhaps then they would be more willing to listen.
yes liam,.nothings changed,brits still here for the forseeable future and no new plans about how to change it,such is life.
SF have only themselves to blame for the predicament they are in. The constant mud slinging from FF/FG etc concerning IRA past actions could have been easily avoided if Gerry and Martin hadn’t tried to distance themselves, during the peace process, of their links to the IRA campaign. If the pair had said from day one that they were part of a movement and had no regrets about being part of that movement, although they may have regretted certain actions carried out by that movement, and because they were/are part of that movement they wouldn’t be discussing it anymore, then perhaps there wouldn’t have been as much mud slinging. At the very least undecided people could agree to their honesty. As it is, due to the pairs distancing, and pathetic attempts to pretend they are something they are not leaves it open for their opponents to mock and make them squirm.
SF have been two faced of that there is no doubt and many have experienced that two facedness. Of course their duplicity can be excused by their cheerleaders by pointing out eg ‘we are in power in the north’ or ‘we are the main nationalist party in the north’ etc. However their prompts about ‘thinking of the bigger picture’ were accepted by folk, who were already doubtful of their strategy, in the hope that when they did get to power they’d finally show what they’d do when power(the bigger picture) came to fruition. Alas in the north, they have, it seems, become intoxicated with all the loot that is available between them and the DUP. The timidness an at times pathetic fawning of their leader in stormont towards unionist and British ministers etc is certainly not what people thought when they were told to think of the bigger picture.
Meanwhile in the free state, it appears SF has missed the boat. Make no mistake the shinners didn’t have as good an election as they claimed. In fact the rise of FF would have rocked them, after all everybody had written off FF due to the state they left the free state in. SF tried to do what they did with the SDLP, and steal FF’s clothes. Alas what they failed to notice was that a large section of the free state electorate wanted radical change, not just another party like FF,FG and labour, and that is what SF was striving to do. In fact, up to the present day, it seems there isn’t much between SF and the other establishment parties.
Also, what SF perhaps didn’t realise, adopting the same policy down south as they did up north I.e steal(mimic) the SDLPs ways just won’t work. For one, the electorate have very little interest in the ‘wider picture’ never mind understand it. So brushing off duplicity and two facedness wouldn’t be as readily forgiven by the southern electorate.
Just like the brit Labour Party will have to do, SF will have to tap into the growing electorate who are sick of the establishment and its policies. The brexit,Trump,Italian and upcoming European elections is proof of what way the tide is turning. Alas SF don’t offer anything different to the electorate, certainly nothing radical from what FF or FG offer, and that’s why I say they have missed the boat.
I would love to see Sinn Fein replace Fianna Fail.
Unfortunately there is no party to fill the criteria you outline WT and I totally disagree that Sinn Fein should be it.
Trump and the other nations you mention are protest votes based on anti globalisation and nothing more.
Sinn Fein have long term plans to replace the two civil war parties and I sincerely hope they succeed.
If the people in the south do feel the way you feel they do, then my preference would be to permanently split the country and have two independent Irelands based on a referendum I am sure all 9 counties of Ulster would support it and perhaps a few others also. A 5 county state is not economically viable
6 county
you would think he was talking about stormont now…………….
it is a fallacy to believe that a republic of any kind can be won through the schackeld free state,you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear,the free state is british created and serves british imperialist interests,it is a buffer erected between british capitalism and the irish republic..
liam mellows.
I would have to agree with that billy
Dail Eireann is the same british assembly that it was when it was tied to Westminster
It is not worthy to represent the Irish people as a parliament.
Radical change is needed all over the country if it is ever to be a sovereign republic