Brandon Lewis, secretary of state for the north of Ireland, is hoping that many of the general American public, ever sympathetic towards the island of Ireland, may, through the British government’s appointment of Trevor Ringland to assist as a special envoy in the United States, graduate from a state of instinctive sympathy and love for Ireland to the beginning of an ‘intelligent’ one. Akin to the monkey and the piano player.
Unionists have never been interested in creating a shared space and conflict obviously followed. Recently we are observing a complete polarisation of politics caused by Brexit, with the consequences of damaging the Good Friday Agreement. The British government are in complete disarray and are on a solo run with their proposed special envoy to the US – I suspect for the reasons of the delicate trade negotiations ongoing between the UK and the US. Boris Johnson, who can play the fool at times, knows how serious the Americans are about the GFA. The decision to unilaterally make such an appointment directly relating to the north’s interests and priorities without consulting the democratically mandated executive hints of Tory arrogance and disrespect. Why are we surprised? It does not need interference from the Tories in how to engage with the US public.
Trevor Ringland is an ex-unionist/Conservative pro-union supporter, a sort of wandering person, a solicitor with a high-profile rugby career. His views, presented in a pontificating way, on subjects such as partition, border poll and reconciliation formula have been reported in the media, particularly on occasions in the letters page of The Irish News. In his role as a new special envoy to the US he hopes to challenge written comments about the north of Ireland being a British occupied state and nationalists/republicans having an occupied island mentality/idealisms leading to conflict periods that stemmed from them. Which of course is very true, ever since the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169.
Among the Irish diaspora in the US down through the ages there has been a strong Irish nationalist/republican lobby with significant clout to keep the general American public on track regarding justice and peace in Ireland and our place united outside of the UK. In addition, the US have a Consulate office in Belfast, an Embassy in London and in Dublin. Among their many facilities, including advice on trade, they serve as an honest broker in helping to foster peaceful solutions to the north of Ireland’s complex and turbulent political past.
With the extent of diplomatic capacity available to the American government here on this side of the pond on Irish affairs, we will await to see their reaction to this new north of Ireland special envoy.
JAMES BARRY
Dublin 6
Ireland is again reunited
There were two certainties exposed in the media last week. First, Emmanuel Macron stated truthfully that Northern Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom. It always was and will be part of a country called Ireland which has 32 counties. Unionist politicians often quote the 1801 Act of the Union as the reason for being a United Kingdom. Sadly this much quoted act is like our 100-year-old partition – it was delivered at the barrel of a gun or sword so is like all such acts, illegal, null and void. If Ireland had not been partitioned by Britain with force, Ireland today would be an Irish speaking 32-county nation. That is indisputable and should now be returned to its rightful place.
Secondly, the so-called Protocol or border at the Irish sea, this is 100 per cent correct and the only place for Ireland’s border – it is natural permanent and enforceable.
The unenforceable so-called British border put across Ireland 100 years ago in now history and redundant. Ireland is again reunited.
PETER McEVOY
Banbridge, Co Down
Stupid wars
There have been many stupid wars in history. Here are some of them:
The Pastry War. This war took place between Mexico and France in the 1800s. A pastry shop in Mexico City was destroyed by lawless mob. The French chef named Remontel asked the Mexican government to pay damages. He was ignored and so he asked the French government for help. It was forgotten about until 10 years later when the French blockaded Mexico and occupied the city of Veracruz.
The War of Jenkins’s Ear. In 1731 a British trader had his ear cut off after being accused of smuggling by the Spanish. Eight years later Britain launched a war in which 25,000 were killed or wounded and about 5,000 ships lost to avenge that ear.
The Football War. In 1969 a war took place between El Salvador and Honduras when a riot broke out during a FIFA World Cup qualifier. On July 14 1969, El Salvador attacked Honduras. The war lasted six days but it left 900 Salvadorans and 2,250 Hondurans dead and 300,000 Salvadorans displaced.
Let’s hope that we don’t go to war over sausages.
TONY CARROLL
Newry, Co Down
Surely it’s time to move on
I agree with Danny Treacy (June 2) – ‘A biased recall of history only serves to perpetuate old hatreds’. One side must not infer that opponents are or were any better or worse than themselves. It is worth remembering that the two most Protestant counties, Antrim and Down, supported Theobald Wolfe Tone in 1798, in order to create a spirit of brotherhood among all Irish people. Alas the ugly head of sectarianism scuppered their efforts.
As the Twelfth approaches, how many people know what they are celebrating? For most it is a day out but for a section of the community it is a celebration of the victory of the Protestant Reformation in the British Isles. How ironic that loyalists who allege loyalty to Britain celebrate the victory of the Protestant Dutch King William over the English Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Surely it is time to move forwards.
TERESA MITCHELL
Arklow, Co Wicklow
Self-indulgent attitude
So health minister Robin Swann is dangerous according to Ian Paisley jnr and Sir Van Morrison.
Of course, Paisley jnr had been gorging at the Europa Hotel and then went on stage. As a Protestant unionist I have to say that his self-indulgent attitude and sense of entitlement is repulsive.
This may come as strange to your nationalist Catholic readership.
Self-serving people of his sort should not have the oxygen of publicity in the press.
RAYMOND MITCHELL
Portadown, Co Armagh
