I did not have a vote in the recent Presidential election in Ireland. Along with many other citizens who hold Irish passports, I have been denied the vote by successive Dublin governments because they say we live outside the 26 county jurisdiction. However, that could be easily rectified by introducing legislation to allow all Irish citizens to vote in Irish elections.
Successive Fianna Fail and Fine Gael governments in Dublin have not listened to the Irish citizens in the 6 counties. Occasionally they made token statements about reuniting Ireland –but did nothing whatsoever about bringing it about.
If I had a vote in the recent Presidential election, I would have voted for Catherine Connolly, for many reasons. Firstly, she stated that she wants to help to build a new Republic. She wants to be a President for all the people of Ireland -for the young, for the homeless, for the voiceless, for women, for men, for Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter. She wants to promote the Irish language, music, dancing, culture and sport. She has shown her skills when it comes to football.
Uachtarán Catherine Connolly has placed great emphasis on speaking our native Irish language. This is very important to me at this juncture in our history that all young people will discover their rich heritage. I am sure she will help to further the speaking of Irish on an everyday basis.
Many Unionists have not accepted the totality of the Good Friday Agreement and reject the idea of Irish reunification. There are some more realistic unionists who know that because of demographic changes constitutional change is inevitable and that they should be preparing for that eventuality.
Catherine Connolly had the support of independents, Sinn Fein, PBP, Soc Dems, Labour and other left leaning groups. All of these are in support of a Border poll and constitutional change on this island. That was provided for in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
We are living in interesting times in Ireland. There is much talk in the media and on the street about Irish reunification. There will be a border poll –sooner rather than later. We all have a contribution to make in creating the New Ireland of Equals.
The Dublin government has a special contribution to make in terms of preparing citizens for the Border referendum. So far they have been absent from the discussion. The Taoiseach Michéal Martin leader of Fianna Fail avoids the issue and talks instead about the need for reconciliation before the holding of a referendum.
There is then no pressure on the London government to set a date for a Border poll.
The former Fine Gael Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has shown more realism by engaging in the conversation about Irish unity. More politicians in the 26 counties need to follow his example and become engaged in the Great Debate.
I believe that our new Uachtarán, Catherine Connolly, will make a huge contribution to the debate about the New Republic. I believe she will show by example how the New Ireland will come about. She is a woman of vision who is committed to building peace and justice in our country and in our world. Beatha agus Sláinte dí!
well said Joe. at the Labour Party Ard Fheis last weekend, Its party leader Ivana Bacik announced her party was now on board for a United Ireland and called on M. Martins government to start talking and start planning for a border poll. Martin’s most likely successor, Jim O’Callaghan, was quoted in a newspaper this morning, expressing what he feels might need to happen in advance of border poll. He at least, acknowledges that it is coming and seems reluctant to share his head space with Michéal Martins Ostridge hole.
One thing that must not be allowed to happen in the time ahead, after Catherine Connolly’s successful presidential election campaign, is that all those parties of the left and others who campaigned to make that victory happen, will now sit back on their laurels and wait until a few months before the next presidential election in the seven years time, before starting to moan again about citizens in the north being denied a vote in the election. all those parties, particularly Sinn Fein, need to start campaigning for such a change now and to not stop shouting about it until it happens!