Opinion

Covid has produced chance for Sinn Féin to do something principled

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to challenge us all, not least our politicians. The latest policy area is the continued obscenity of the 11-plus, which the executive tacitly supports not least by funding the results and school decisions.

Now thanks to Covid-19 we know entry to many grammar schools depends on where the school is located. In a previous letter I asked whether the two sets of private sector 11-plus assessment groups were measuring different types of intelligence. If these ‘tests’ were in any way reliable or comparable why would so many parents put their children through the same testing process twice? Imagine if soon to be reopened MoT centres recorded both a fail and a pass for a car’s brakes, where no change is made to the brakes.

In May our DUP minister pronounced “no viable alternative” to the 11-plus –   in a clash, presumably for the optics, with his Sinn Féin counterpart.

Twenty years after Martin McGuinness abolished the 11-plus we now have a privatised selection system and a minister content with the status quo. Then recently a number of grammar schools announced they had come up with a solution, one which somehow escaped Minister Weir and his assembly colleagues.

As many have noted if schools can find an alternative once, why not again, only with better planning and preparation.

In the 2016 Assembly election SF seemed to have agreed joint election manifestos with the DUP. Curiously having held the education portfolio off and on for 16 years SF opted not to take the portfolio, pretending since then not to notice the DUP was effectively reversing 11-plus abolition. Three years later in December 2019 SF passed on both of the big spending departments – health and education. One wonders why? Were they afraid to take responsibility and do something?

Paradoxically Covid-19 virus produced a chance to do something principled, positive and finally realise Martin McGuinness’s policy.

If asked to mark SF’s homework one might suggest despite their oft repeated mantra of Republican principles, there’s little recorded evidence of acts by principled republicans.

On the other hand, if SF has changed its 11-plus policy perhaps they could tell us both when and why?

FRANK HENNESSEY


Belfast BT9

Erection of Neptune-like figure in Athlone an affront to Mná na hÉireann

A new statue is on its way to the heart of Ireland and is causing outrage locally, nationally and internationally – even before it is erected. It started last year when Westmeath County Council called for a sculpture to represent “the heritage, memory and environment of Athlone” and in particular the Shannon River on which the town stands. A 3.5m Neptune-like figure claiming to “hark back to Irish mythology” was selected by an anonymous panel as the “fierce and proud river god, laden with fruits of the river’s basin.” However, in Irish mythology, the Shannon is named after a goddess – not a god. Her name is Sionann and she is the granddaughter of Lir (of Children of Lir fame). To overwrite her by an 11ft hairy male statue is considered by many as an affront to our ancient heritage, an affront to Mná na hÉireann and an affront to egalitarians the world over. It is also not specific to Athlone. The male “river god” of the Shannon was concocted in the 18th century for the Custom House in Dublin and now adorns inner pages of new Irish passports. The river heads on that historic building represented commerce and profit and the export of Ireland’s resources to the British Empire. The prime position of the Custom House ornamentation is still held by the crown of England, perched superior to the harp of Ireland which is surrounded by the lion and unicorn – symbols of governance in a time of subjugation.


Protests include a petition, so far signed by 650 people, peaceful street events, art, poetry and a Facebook forum. An open letter calling for the statue to be revoked was signed by 150 people of diverse backgrounds including mythologists and mathematicians, folklorists, feminists, counsellors and carers. The question is whether colonial iconography that overwrites Mná na hÉireann is apt representation of Athlone’s and Ireland’s identity into the future.

RALPH KENNA


Athlone, Co Westmeath

Contempt for human life

Boris Johnson (March 12) dramatically warned “...we might lose loved ones before their time...” Yet, it took a further 11 days, until March 23, for the PM to order a national lockdown. More bizarrely, the Guardian reports a 27th of February government science advisory meeting, where the potential for half a million coronavirus fatalities may have been discussed.

Is contempt for human life a hallmark feature of the Westminster Conservative cabinet and is it lead by one of the most incompetent and dangerous prime ministers ever to grace 10 Downing Street? In total contrast, the German people benefited from having a scientifically literate leader.

Even the most scientifically illiterate of Westminster politicians might see the unborn child at six months as having human rights. Just look up “The Facts Human Development” (on the CBRUK Website) for evidence of this.  The bible reminds us of the mystery of unborn human life developing in the womb: “As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

TJ HARDY


Belfast BT5

Phoney culture

Does Alex Kane (June 12) and many of those unionists of whom he speaks not realise the whole world has passed them by and are no longer interested in phoney sectarian ‘cultures’.

The plantation, the partition of Ireland at gunpoint and all the other terrible and bloody atrocities at the behest of HM Government in Westminster as in all other colonies have now backfired with nowhere left to go.

The Empire is gone and HM Kingdom is crumbling.


Alex, it is all a nonsense, you can either learn to live with your fellow countrymen in a 32-county Ireland or eat grass or maybe even chips.

LAURENCE O’NEILL


Martinstown, Co Antrim

Put ’em in the bin

Wearing of face masks has become trendy, but I find when the smelly things are discarded outdoors the light blue side is often face upwards fluttering in the breeze along the pavement, and temptation overtakes me.

More than once I’ve pounced on one thinking it a €20 note and much to the amusement of onlookers and to my own horror sees me rushing home to decontaminate.

ROBERT SULLIVAN


Bantry, Co Cork