Human beings are relentlessly optimistic. Every year at this time we go out and go a bit mad with Love for all and a determination that this coming year will be the best ever: this despite the fact that a vulgar oaf is in the White House, that a shell of a politician occupies No 10 Downing Street and that. a right-wing unionist minority is paralysing if not killing all hope of respect and reconciliation. Reasons to be cheerful? Hard to come by- but they do exist.
1. The unionist majority here is gone and is never coming back.
2. The British people have been forced to have a good look at the DUP and they’re still quivering.
3. Brexit has persuaded all sorts of partitionists on both sides of the border to think again about the patent economic absurdity of an economic border and, if the UK keeps thundering towards the Brexit cliff, about the wisdom of jumping off with her. Is remaining a UK citizen worth suffering a broken economic back?
4. The sight of political neandrethals cavorting about on both sides of the Atlantic has forced many young people in particular to realise that political involvement is needed and a better society is possible.
5. There’s already a stretch to the evenings. Here comes the sun. Bliain Úr mhmaith duibh, a chairde – Happy New Year, everyone.
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