People keep informing the readership of The Irish News that the SDLP are not, in effect, a unionist party including Eamon Hanna (April 24).
I cannot recall one time the SDLP advocated or espoused a secular federal Ireland akin to the Éire Nua proposal. Why would a nationalist or republican party not promote such an idea?
It should be pointed out that Daniel O’Connell was a loyalist before there was even an Act of Union. He joined the Yeoman Corps and actively fought against the Society of United Irishmen during the Ulster Scots genocide. He never advocated for a republic and denigrated Young Ireland for doing so again backing Britain against the people of Ireland during the genocide known as An Gorta Mór. He was hardly ‘The Liberator’ as he is often fabled to be.
Parnell was different. Unlike modern constitutional nationalists he was not willing to settle for a devolved legislature which he made clear by stating, “No man has the right to fix the boundary to the march of a nation. No man has the right to say to his country thus far shalt thou go and no further”.
The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography notes that Parnell promoted the IRB in Ireland and Britain. This has been acknowledged by several academics and it is a key difference with modern constitutional nationalists.
Also the assertion that Davitt, the man who served 15 years in Dartmoor prison for treason due to his role in the Fenian Rising, is ridiculous especially when his courageous fight against the British Empire during the Second Boer War is considered.
Ireland is different from Scotland in that Ireland voted for independence when it was given the opportunity to do so, as 1918 and 1921 elections prove, whereas 55 per cent of Scotland’s people spurned a great chance three years ago. Fifty six seats, or 59 for that matter, is not enough to curb the worst excesses of a Westminster government or gain independence. Seventy three out of 105 seats and 130 out of 180 seats were not enough for Sinn Féin to gain independence in 1918 and 1921 what makes Eamon Hanna think 18 seats would make a difference or be enough for independence now even if all were held by constitutional nationalists?
EAMONN MacGRIANNA
Beal Feirste BT11
Put an end to campaign of lobbying against ‘Free State amigo’
Val Morgan in his letter ‘Enough is enough’ (April 6) takes umbrage to my opinion and exception to the amount of times I have been top billed – in addition to the content of my letters. The tone of his missive is one of condescension and contempt in lobbying for the removal of my contributions to the Letters Page.
The Irish News as far as I know is not there to support or lobby for any particular opinion or policy. It has succeeded in the marketplace because it offers better in-depth coverage and wider viewpoints.
The newspaper is an all-island newspaper and bought in a variety of locations on both sides of the border and online throughout the world.
I would like to tell Mr Morgan that I am a well-regarded writer because of my insights into various issues. My articles are published more often because they probably offer unique angles on various issues. Rather than trite rubbish that brings newspapers to their knees so often and sends them into liquidation.
It is unfortunate that Mr Morgan does not appreciate my contributions. However, I would like to tell him very clearly that his lobbying to expunge me from the column inches of The Irish News will do nothing to obstruct me in writing my views about Northern Ireland, or any other issue on this island that I wish to write about.
Ironically, Mr Morgan has popped up on the letters page of The Irish News quite a bit himself.
Maybe he should end his campaign to lobby against what he refers to as a ‘Free State amigo’ – which is rejected and dismissed by me – to censor and censure southern viewpoints. I wonder indeed what Mr Morgan would say if I was writing as a paid columnist on The Irish News or some other newspaper which allow non-conventional opinions to be published.
Perhaps, he would protest outside its offices given his angst until I was gone and that of other writers whom he does not agree with?
MAURICE FITZGERALD
Shanbally, Co Cork
Derry needs properly paid jobs
The Foyle candidate who can overwhelmingly convince voters on the doorsteps they will exert relentless job generating pressure on Invest NI must be elected on June 8.
As this will help to get our ‘helping’ of new properly paid 21st century jobs into Derry generated by overseas companies – be they from US, Canada, China, or Japan.
Derry’s only aerospace manufacturing plant closing in March was deeply disturbing news for Derry folk. The recently announced closure of our Tax Office and our Electoral Office is also disturbing. Not to mention Derry’s B&Q quitting the city.
Last month we were told of yet another overseas company US firm is coming to Belfast and generating 100 new properly paid jobs in its new Belfast engineering centre, assisted with a £650,000 grant from Invest NI. Of course on the Derry doorsteps we’ll be told Brexit is of the first importance; or the new road; or Magee expansion.
Right now none of these is of the first importance to Derry folk. Action on influencing the generation of properly paid 21st century jobs, that’s what is of the first importance.
The lack is the main reason a recent survey of Derry young folk found that more than 80 per cent planned to emigrate.
So we must elect someone with the attitude of former US president Andrew Jackson whose famous words were “when the time for action arrives stop thinking about
it and go in”.
TOM BRADLEY
Derry City
State can’t be trusted
As the son of an innocent bystander killed in a collusion case, I don’t view collusion as simply a case of the British targeting the Irish but as a case of the state attacking the people.
Now that former Sinn Féin donor Donald Trump is president of America and that most British political commentators view him as a hero, it shows that Northern Ireland is being wilfully ignored by the great and the good. The fear the Tories have of an electoral backlash outweighs any care for the union.
Sinn Féin naïvely believe that politics works. How many politicians do you see outside a shop at 6am carrying a lunch box?
Belgium experienced economic growth during its political impasse six years ago. We should take heart and learn to paddle our own canoe.
DESMOND DEVLIN
Ardboe, Co Tyrone
Sobering insight
I watched a sobering insight on the BBC called Prison – From the Inside exploring the stories behind the crimes of the men and women serving time in prison here in Northern Ireland.
It was a very educational report giving a human dimension to the many serving time. Can we now expect the BBC to do a follow up report giving a voice to the victims of the people shown in the report sometime in the near future?
M CAIRNS
Belfast BT15
