News Letter – Monday 2 April 2012

A FORMER Irish diplomat has said that the Republic of Ireland is moving ever closer to the UK and that there is a growing possibility of it re-joining the British Commonwealth.

Eamon Delaney, who was in the Irish Foreign Service from 1987 to 1995 and is now an author and journalist, was speaking in the wake of Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson’s speech in Dublin, last week, to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Ulster Covenant.

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Tuesday 13th MARCH 2012

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Tom Elliott has spoken at Trinity College Dublin at an event organised by the Reform Society to mark Commonwealth Day. Mr Elliott said: “It was a great pleasure for me to be in Trinity College Dublin on Commonwealth Day and to address the Reform Society. The relationship between Northern Ireland and the Republic and between Dublin and London has improved beyond all recognition in the past 15 years. They have certainly improved since 1980 when the then Prime Minister of the Republic decreed that no help was to be given by the Garda into the investigation into the 1979 IRA murder of 18 soldiers at Narrow Water near Warrenpoint on the grounds that this was a “political crime”.

“Thankfully times have changed, the improved relationships we now enjoy are a most welcome development and I sincerely hope and trust that these relationships will continue to develop in the coming years.

“Her Majesty the Queen made a very important point during her visit to Dublin Castle last year when she said, ‘We should bow to the past but not be bound by it.’

“This must be borne in mind by all sides and whilst a great deal of progress has been made we must recognise that there remains a great deal of work to be done.

“In my discussions with a variety of individuals and groups in the Republic I have been made aware that there is still a lack of confidence amongst those in the Republic of a pro-British mindset and who would–for example–be supportive of a return to the Commonwealth.

“The proof of a lasting thaw in relationships between Dublin and London will be when those in the Republic who of a pro-British mindset can state with confidence that they are no longer living in a cold house.

“I am convinced that if the Republic were to rejoin the Commonwealth this would send an important signal that the Republic of Ireland of the 21st Century was no longer a prisoner of its history and was ready to assume a place on the World stage as part of the Commonwealth family.”

[Watch the full speech here.]

ENDS
Stephen Barr
Tel.: +44 (0)28 9052 1890
Mob: +44 (0)7855 429980
Ulster Unionist Press Office
Room 215 Parliament Buildings
Stormont
Belfast
BT4 3XX

Commonwealth Day by Roy Garland  – 5 March 2012, The Irish News

This year’s Commonwealth Day theme for Monday 12th March is “Connecting Cultures”. This involves an exploration of cultural traditions across the planet to be displayed in words, music and dance. The diversity is in tune with the concept of a Commonwealth that covers 2 billion people in 54 different countries across the globe.

The origins of the Commonwealth lie with the British Empire but the name also reminds us of Cromwell’s Commonwealth. The latter was a Republic that covered these islands. Neither Cromwell’s Commonwealth nor the British Empire was faultless yet the ideas on which they were based contain the seeds of a more wholesome future for human beings in that commonwealth suggests sharing.

Commonwealth Day is not officially marked in the Republic but for the third year running the Reform Group will mark the day in Dublin.  Reform is a nonsectarian, nonparty group that promotes a pluralist, open agenda for an inclusive modern Irish republic.

They accept that progress has been made but believe much work remains to be done. A better Ireland would be better served if the Republic were to join the Commonwealth.  The Day is to be marked at the Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin, on Monday next at 6.00pm.

Tom Elliott, UUP leader is to be the speaker.  He has hailed Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the Republic as a resounding success that opens up new possibilities.

Her positive reception is another step towards the Irish Republic joining the Commonwealth. It is significant that the UUP leader is saying these things and taking steps towards improving relationships north and south by going to Dublin.

In contrast the previous UUP leader regretted too much emphasis on north-south links. Perhaps he was thinking of formal linkages, which are important but surely it is also informal relationships built between ordinary people at all levels that makes a real difference.

In the late 1980s I set out deliberately to become acquainted with and understand people in the Republic. Until then the South remained a remote, foreign and at times threatening place.  This was despite my family having lived near Dundalk for centuries and having retained family links in Monaghan.

I can still recall the sense of dread on crossing the border and the relief on returning home during the 1960s and 70s. Returning to the patchwork quilted patterned fields of Northern Ireland was always comforting. Friends in the South similarly feared crossing in the opposite direction although many did so on both sides.

In the longer term crossing that border was a liberating experience. One result was the formation of the Guild of Uriel as a vehicle through which we could share experiences with friends from a wide range of backgrounds. The resulting dialogue was satisfying and encouraging.

The reaction of young Loyalists in the 1990s was instructive. They feared the crossing but could hardly believe the warmth of the reception they received. Yet even some Unionist politicians still feared being shot by the IRA after crossing the border.

What amazed me was the empathy that ordinary people could show each other. Members of Reform met with local Catholics who seemed shocked to discover that fellow citizens of the Irish Republic could feel so alienated from the dominant ethos.

Tom Elliott now echoes what I have said in this column about the value of Irish Commonwealth membership. This could help cement and heal relationships not only across these islands but also with a worldwide family of nations that would surely be in keeping with the best of Irish traditions.

The modern Commonwealth dates from 1949 when the word “British” was removed from the title. But Ireland also left the Commonwealth and North and South became more estranged. The time has now surely come to mend relationships and heal ancient hurts.

There is nothing incongruous about a republic in membership of the Commonwealth. In fact most present members are republics and, although Queen Elizabeth remains symbolic Head, future heads need not be monarchs.

The Commonwealth is a free association of nations working together on a basis of equality while committed to democracy and human rights. It is a force for progress in the world that has the capacity to help move us towards a better world through “connecting cultures”.

Perhaps Winston Churchill’s words quoted recently by Eamon Phoenix, are relevant in this context and during this Ulster Covenant year  “Let Ulster fight for the dignity and honour of Ireland; let her fight for the reconciliation of races and for the forgiveness of ancient wrongs…. Then indeed Ulster will fight and Ulster will be right”.

Article reproduced courtesy of The Irish News

UUP leader Tom Elliott will outline in Dublin why the Republic should consider re-entering the Commonwealth as Britain celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Mr Elliott will be the guest speaker at an event in Trinity College, Dublin to mark International Commonwealth Day on Monday 12 March 2012 [Room 3126, 3rd Floor, Arts Building] @ 6pm – the second year running the event has been held in Dublin by Reform.

The Reform Group is a non-denominational, non-party body based in the Republic of Ireland, advocating the development of Ireland for a new generation to foster a post-nationalist, pluralist Ireland.

Speaking ahead of the event the UUP leader said the Queen’s visit to Dublin and Cork last year suggested a new relationship between the two states.

“Developments during the past 15 years have witnessed a sea change in the relationship between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and also the Republic and the entire United Kingdom,” he added.

“The Queen’s visit to the Republic was a resounding success. She received a tremendous welcome wherever she went and some commentators were moved to raise the question of whether or not the Republic should rejoin the Commonwealth.

“As part of the Commonwealth the Republic would not only cement its new relationship with Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, but would join a family of over two billion people worldwide.”

Event organiser, Robin Bury, said Commonwealth Day is an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth’s organisations, which aim to improve the lives of its citizens.

“The theme for Commonwealth Day 2012 is Connecting Cultures and we are delighted that Mr Elliott will help us mark this year’s celebrations in Dublin. Ireland could use its impressive experience in world organisations like the U.N. to influence the future development of the Commonwealth, an organisation with 32 republics, radically changed since Ireland left,” he added.

For more information please contact:
Mr Robin Bury, Chairman, Reform Group
+353 (0)87 257 8833, phineas56@gmail.com
&
Mr Stephen Barr, Press Officer, Ulster Unionist Party
+44 (0)28 9052 1890

News Letter – Thursday 1 March 2012

ULSTER Unionist leader Tom Elliott will outline his reasons why the Republic should consider re-joining the Commonwealth in a landmark speech in Dublin later this month.

The UUP chief will be the guest speaker at an event in Trinity College to mark International Commonwealth Day on March 12.

Mr Elliott is expected to focus on the successful and historic state visit of the Queen to the south last May and how the monarch was warmly received by the Irish public.

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Photograph: News Letter

The Republic of Ireland should consider rejoining the Commonwealth as Britain celebrates the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party said.

Her visit to Dublin and Cork last year suggested a new relationship between the two states, Tom Elliott added.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like to know if FG have decided to abandon their pre-election promise of making Irish optional. I am not interested in hearing about aspirations to ‘teach it better’ but simply would like to know if you intend continuing the policy of compulsory Irish for Leaving Cert or more precisely have you done a U-turn after pressure was brought to bear from vested interests who benefit from the current arrangements. Where does FG stand on this?

Thanks and regards,

Robin Bury,
The Reform Group.

The race for the Áras

Sir, – Gay Mitchell’s comment that he “would be positively disposed towards Ireland joining the Commonwealth if that was the price of a united Ireland” (Home News report on debate hosted by Today FM and The Last Word presenter Matt Cooper, October 12th) raises an important point.

If and when the European project collapses or fragments, Ireland could find itself isolated internationally. The country would need to strengthen its links with our closest neighbours – Britain and Northern Ireland – and with the members of the Commonwealth, which contains a huge and growing Irish Diaspora and with whom we already have deep economic, political and cultural links.

In that context it would certainly be advantageous to have a president open to the idea of Irish membership of the Commonwealth. – Yours, etc,

Prof GEOFFREY ROBERTS,

Head of the School of History,

University College Cork,

Cork.

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I wrote a letter on September 23, suggesting people be allowed to pay an ‘indulgence’ to free their child from compulsory Irish. This money could be used to satisfy the special interests that forced the FG U-turn on making Irish optional.

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Choice in Irish Facebook Page

Roy Garland is an honorary member of the Reform Group

The Irish News – 3 October 2011

As I drove to the 4th McCluskey Civil Rights Summer School at Carlingford County Louth recently, I felt a warm sense of coming home. Louth is where my family have lived for centuries.

The last time I felt like this was at Londonderry as I presented a programme “Looking for Lundy”. Stories of the famous Siege and Lundy the scapegoat were among my earliest memories.

During the 1930s my grandfather, the best glazier in Ireland, worked on Guildhall windows. Using off-cuts from the stained glass he created a colourful glass picture exhibiting various Orange symbols which remains in the Apprentice Boys Museum.

My ancestors were said to survive the Siege by eating cats and dogs. In truth however they were Royalists who fought for King James at the Boyne. If they were at Derry in 1688, they were among the besiegers.

My Garland forebears settled near Dundalk perhaps by the 12th century. Their surname in Norman/French was spelt Gernon but both versions were used alternatively over many centuries.

For a decade during the 1990s Dundalk local historian, Alphie Reilly helped research my family roots there. The surname remains on road signs for Castlebellingham as Baile an Ghearlánaigh (Garlandstown).

Dundalk historian Dr Harold O’Sullivan explained their sense of identity saying they were proud of their English ancestry and played a significant role in the development of modern Ireland.

Often however they appeared on different sides during various conflicts. By the 17th century along with other Old English families, they joined forces with the Irish to save their lands.

In 1645 Father Anthony Gearnon/Garland published a catechism and prayer book in Irish Gaelic: Parrthas An Anma (Paradise of the Soul). Irish Catholics lacked such religious material in the Irish language.

By the late 17th century the young sole heiress of Milltown Garlands, Margaret Gernon, eloped with William Fortescue a Williamite who, while fighting at Bandon County Cork, was captured. Margaret and her children were then evicted from their Dromiskin home.

In a strange irony some of Margaret’s descendants became intimately associated with the 18th century Protestant Ascendancy. But my branch had moved to Monaghan in 1591 where two centuries later, they helped form the Orange Order.

These Irish/British traditions are so firmly embedded in my life that I resent the description “West Brit”, that implies that my family is not truly Irish. As a unionist and member of the Dublin based Reform Group, I feel unashamedly Irish and British but find the term “West Brit” is insulting.

The Irish dimension is for us as inextricable as the British dimension. Neither can be obliterated because the people of these islands have been too closely intertwined for too long.

Some say Hitler had Jewish blood in his veins which may explain his hatred for Jewish people. Patrick Pearse’s father was English which may help explain his antipathy to things British.

But instead of trying to accomplish the impossible by driving out our inherent complexity, we ought to embrace all comers and be enriched by doing so.

Martin McGuinness may have contributed more to peace than many unionists but Republicans are an intrinsic part of the equation that reproduces bigotry and intransigence.

I was once Worshipful Master of an Orange Lodge that displayed its title in Irish Oidhreacht na hÉireann and English “Ireland’s Heritage LOL”. Surely one’s family cannot live on this island for nearly a millennium yet be denigrated as “West Brits”. That would be incredibly short sighted.

Old English Catholics were part of the reality of Irish life and so were many of the New English. If this diversity cannot be welcomed and accommodated it might yet return to haunt us by becoming a major stumbling block. It already gives a spurious legitimacy to Dissidents who condemn us just for being what we are.

Fifteen years ago I addressed Republicans at Camlough South Armagh. I faced antagonism from some in an audience that included Basque Separatists. But Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey intervened by saying I had engaged with Sinn Fein when no one else would do so. He also recalled Loyalists insisting that they are “the Brits”. Republicans had stopped using the offensive slogan.

To seek to unite people or to cherish unionists while denigrating those one proposes to unite with is a contradiction in terms. To scapegoat the remnant of a once proud tradition as “West Brits”, reinforces the alienation that already exists. Such talk may provide spurious comfort blankets in the short term but at the expense of a better, happier and more inclusive future for us all.

Article reproduced courtesy of The Irish News