Northern Ireland

Ian Paisley's portrait of Protestant nationalist Charles Stewart Parnell prompts interest

Ian Paisley joins Prime Minister's Questions with a caricature of Charles Stewart Parnell hanging behind him
Ian Paisley joins Prime Minister's Questions with a caricature of Charles Stewart Parnell hanging behind him Ian Paisley joins Prime Minister's Questions with a caricature of Charles Stewart Parnell hanging behind him

IAN Paisley has described Charles Stewart Parnell, the Protestant nationalist who campaigned for land reform, as among the "most interesting and formative people" in 19th century Anglo-Irish politics.

The DUP MP was speaking after the backdrop to his virtual contribution to Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions prompted commentary from a fellow MP and noted historian Éamon Phoenix.

Mr Paisley was speaking from his Ballymena constituency office, where the wall behind him is adorned with portraits of leading figures from pre-partition Anglo-Irish politics.

Sinn Féin's Chris Hazzard tweeted: "I’m not a big fan of his politics, but Ian Paisley’s décor is certainly worth a look."

The South Down MP noted how historian A J P Taylor had described Parnell as the “man who most gave Ireland the sense of being an independent nation”.

Irish News contributor Éamon Phoenix was also intrigued by the artworks.

"It's ironic that Parnell, arguably the most prominent pre-1916 nationalist, is over Ian Paisley's shoulder as he is bemoaning the Irish Sea border and how he believes it is undermining the union," he said.

Mr Paisley told The Irish News the Parnell drawing was among a number of caricatures of political, religious and sports figures he had acquired 30 years ago.

He said a young James Craig was over his shoulder to the left, while there was one of Edward Carson directly behind him with Labour Party founder Keir Hardie out of shot.

"In my view they are some of the most interesting and formative people in the previous century of British and Irish politics," he said.

The Irish News was founded in 1891 by opponents of Parnell seeking to counter support for the Irish Parliamentary Party leader in the Belfast Morning News, which a year later was taken over by the former.