Sometime before the Home Rule crisis, the MP and Head of the Orange Order, Colonel Edward Saunderson, declared that there were two nations in Ireland – there was “Loyal Ireland and there is Disloyal Ireland.” He never brought religion into the matter, for politics is the clash of ideas, not theology. When talking to a Unionist politician before, they seemed amazed at my knowledge and admiration of Unionist leaders over the years. What I mean is, I admire that they believed in something, however flawed; unlike many in the spineless political class which rules the world now.
The men I have most respect for are those who led the Rebellion of 1798. Guided by secular and pluralist principles of Freemasonry, they sought to overthrow an old order and form anew – ending the jurisdiction of the Crown and aligning Ireland with Revolutionary France. But we would do well to remember that their heroic efforts were undermined not by forces in London, but by the counter-revolutionaries in Ireland. Indeed, the propertied classes of Ireland, formed the right-wing Yeomanry, an army of mainly rich Catholic mercenaries and some Protestants, to put down a great Presbyterian-inspired uprising for Liberty. Affluent Catholics conspired with the Orangemen to murder their fellow citizens because they feared the sort of radical Ireland that would emerge from a successful rebellion.
The Yeomanry were guided throughout by support from the pulpits and Catholic Hierarchy – who in return, received regular funding for Maynooth College from the British Government. The same sort of people who supported Francisco Franco to the hilt against Republicans. What I’m trying to say is, there has always been a class of Catholics who owe their place in the social hierarchy to Britain’s occupation and mutilation of Ireland. People who are “Catholics first” and “Irishmen second”. What that actually means of course is not that Catholicism is a bad thing, but that the reactionary Catholicism they subscribe to is one which seeks accommodation with existing authorities and orthodoxy. Both Cardinal Cahal Daly and Mark Durkan had parents/relatives who were Catholic RUC men, a force that was 90% Protestant but 100% Loyalist.
Now, not all the Catholic middle-class have a “boot-shining boy” approach to the British. I know of many who are solid in their republicanism and left-wing beliefs. I know of more exiled children in America, who will help to fund the formation of the Republic when the time comes. For I write to you as an accountant-in-training, but as an Irishman first and foremost. My first loyalty is to the people of this country. Cardinal O’Fiach was an Irishman first. Wolfe Tone was an Irishman first. For this is not a religious problem, religion is just one factor. The divide on this island is a class issue. So what was true in Colonel Saunderson’s day stands to reason now, with an opposite twist – You have Loyal Ireland (those affiliated to an Irish Republic, free from British interference) and Disloyal Ireland (the forces of darkness, both Catholic and Protestant, who think only with their wallets). The objective now must be to reawaken the republican flame in the radical Presbyterian/Non-Conformist consciousness and see the ideals of 1798 form a real Irish nation – of Green, White and Orange.
There are very few in Ireland today who we could describe as loyal to the Irish Republic and not one mainstream party can be described as such. Instead, we have a collective of constitutional nationalists who seek that same ‘accommodation with existing authorities’ referred to in the article above – not the Irish Republic.
I struggle to understand your rational Donal that those who support “disloyal Ireland” (Unionism) are only worried about there wallets.
Unionism and Republicanism are classless political positions and have nothing to do with social classes or the ideological battle between socialism and capitalism. Indeed you can quite easily have right wing capitalists and left wing socialists in both Unionism and Republicanism.
If you look at the ROI today I would doubt you could say that it has become a socialist country despite being quite obviously Republican.
There is very little doubt, surely, that Ulster Unionism was led from the top. That doesn’t mean that the working class (“Protestant working class” is a bit redundant as Catholics were rigidly excluded from most industries, and were only allowed into the shipyards – there was a plurality of them over the decades, – because certain skills – joinery / woodwork that was useful in the construction industry were open to Taigs).
Construction provided a lot of jobs, even during industrial ‘downturns’ when houses, shops, churches and the rest still had to be built.
That sort of thing roused suspicions within Unionism – a rather paranoid political tradition in the first place.
Sean Bresnahan,your 1916 societies contain many who are not in any way loyal to the Republic envisaged in 1916.They have a fair share of “wide boys” only interested in using republicanism as a cloak to cover their money making scams and indeed flirt with reactionaries like McGeough and his AOH.
Disgraceful comments by Michael c there and is an example why Irish republicanism has its fractures. If you think there are no ‘wide boys’ in other republican entities then you are deluded. I could point to many individuals within SF that indeed would be nowhere near SF if money wasn’t to be made. Sin é.
You use the name Wolfe Tone.Leading members of the 1916 societies write letters to the Irish News full of dirge about “planters”.I can’t see a disciple of Tone defending that crap.
Please provide the evidence that ‘leading members’ supply letters to the irish news etc re ‘planters’. Rather than slate folk who may happen to disagree with s.f policy perhaps you’d address peoples concerns i.e the triple lock issue the 1916 societies often protest about? The ‘triple lock’ that will nullify and reduce to dust a border poll that s.f proclaim they want?
Wolfe Tone, you need to provide evidence that “I could point to many individuals within SF that indeed would be nowhere near SF if money wasn’t to be made. Sin é”. How much money can you make being in SF? Are you saying SF are corrupt and make money from being in government? All very serious allegations. I would like you to expand on that vague accusation.
Wolfe Tone,a Mr Nugent who promotes the 1916 societies version of a poll has written to the Irish News on more than one occasion warning about “a planter poll”.