“Then came the Great War. Every institution in the world was strained. Great empires have been overturned. The whole map of Europe has been changed. The positions of countries have been violently altered. The modes of thought of men, the whole outlook on affairs, the grouping of parties all have encountered violent and tremendous change in the deluge that has swept the world. But as the deluge subsides and the waters fall short, we see the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone emerging once again. The integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm that has swept the world.” (Hansard, February 16, 1922)
These often quoted words of Winston Churchill, referring to ‘the dreary steeples’ of Fermanagh and Tyrone, came to mind again this week as another election campaign gets under way. Churchill’s remarks are worth quoting because they illustrate the huge gap in understanding between Irish and English thinking. Smart as Churchill was, he did not get it. Well, maybe he did and pretended otherwise. All that the people of Fermanagh and Tyrone ever wanted was their freedom from colonial rule and the right to national self-determination, the right to belong in their own country under their own duly elected government. The British government denied the people their basic right and set up a parliament for one section of the community –and Churchill did not really want to know!
Prime minister Lloyd George’s solution to the ‘Irish problem’ was the Government of Ireland Act 1920 which established two parliaments in Ireland –one in Belfast for 6 counties and one in Dublin for 26 counties. We all know the consequences of that unjust ‘solution.’ Almost 100 years later, we in the 6 counties, are faced with yet another Westminster election. As usual, it will be hard fought for there is a lot at stake after Brexit.
The constituency in which I live and vote is Fermanagh/South Tyrone. It is probably the most interesting constituency in Ireland or in Britain –or maybe anywhere in the world! South Tyrone would probably be a better place to live if you were a GAA fan but I’d prefer the beautiful scenery and the warmer climate of Fermanagh. Anyway, when it comes to elections we are all ‘the one’, united in order to make sure this constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone is represented by a Nationalist/Republican rather than a Unionist/Brexiteer. The same goes for West Tyrone and all the other constituencies. Every time there is an election it is an opportunity to reassert our basic right to belong with the rest of Ireland and to be governed from Dublin. The greater the opposition to this right the more determined are the people that the British and the world will know that we have not gone away.
On 8 June 2017, we will have another Westminster Election which has been sprung on us by Prime Minister May. In Fermanagh/South Tyrone it is a return bout between Michelle Gildernew and the sitting MP Tom Elliot, the farmer and former UDR man from Ballinamallard. Michelle can take it back if people go out to vote, if the postal votes and proxy votes have been sorted. Elections in Fermanagh/South Tyrone are the best of fun, great sport altogether- but they are also very serious affairs for advancing the political process and the peace process. May the best woman win! That’s what I say.
@ Joe.
Surely everything you say about the importance of this election is rendered completely invalid because of Sinn Fein’s childish refusal to take their seats in Westminster.
It’s the equivalent of turning up at the big game in the big stadium, but refusing to play because you don’t like the colour of the ball.
Ps. I hear its lovely in Lancashire at this time of year, but don’t tell Fermanaghs hurlers…
Just one question for you Kevin. Please answer truthfully. Would you swear allegiance to the queen of England and her heirs? I will assume a non response will be answer enough.
Yeah,Kevin,say after me : I,Kevin Connolly, do solemnly swear …….. etc. See when a principle is not childish?
I also hear the weather is more or less the same in the rest of Ireland as it is in Fermanagh and that the people therein who like Ireland would also like to have a government based in Ireland that would include Fermanagh. But no just you let them grovel their miniscule way in a parliament that sees them as dreary, immovable, implacable and basically just a nuisance and see if they can make those insignificant changes they won’t make anyway. Great foresight from another seaneen.
in other words you want to swap british rule for german rule.
This german rule?
“Is the Queen of England German?
Queen Elizabeth II is the male-line great-granddaughter of Edward VII, who inherited the crown from his mother, Queen Victoria. His father, Victoria’s consort, was Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; hence Queen Elizabeth is a patrilineal descendant of Albert’s family, the German princely House of Wettin”.
i wouldnt be as well up as you on english history,so i dont know or care what way shes bred.whatever happened to self determination.
Angela
Through her mothers side Queen Elizabeth II is related to Hugh O’Neill the last great Gaelic lord of Ulster.
A German-Irish Queen you could say.
Strange old world.
It’s also claimed that she and her brother were born to the familys’ French cook.
so French German Irish !!
With regard to the oath of allegiance to the monarch. It is a problem for all Republican leaning politicians in England,Wales and Scotland. It in effect bars Republican representatives from the Commons.
It is just another example as to the lack of democracy in the British state.
Dennis Skinner seems to get through it anyway.
Take their seats in Westminster? I have watched the SDLP perform in that wonderful pro Irish Chamber and cringed in embarrassment at their reception from the Unionists and the Tories whenever they bring up the concerns of their community. It´s like looking at some poor unfortunate bloke with social insecurities trying to fit in with people who want nothing to do with him.
Oh I love the warped reasoning of some people….they would like us to sit in the parliament of the country that has plied countless wars , genocide and starvation on us in innumerable attempts to exterminate us…they would have us swear allegiance to the commander in chief of the infamous Parachute regiment , responsible for Ballymurphy and Bloody Sunday amongst countless other atrocities ……and all to get a dig at Sinn Féin….sound lateral thinking !
Mr Carroll of PBP has already stated he will swear alliegance to her majesty in the unlikely event he is voted into Westminster.
Another reason not to vote for him.
As a Fermanagh man in exile in Dublin I fully concur with Joe’s sentiment. However I have one minor quibble. Even within God ‘s Country there’s a significant variation in temperature and climate. Belcoo is subtropical compared to the harsh of northern climes of Ederney!
Brexit is English nationalism and should be encouraged ,the fact that it will bring Scottish and Irish Independece is ironic but in a nice way!