Léargas

  A Shared Ireland? Regular readers of this blog will not be surprised by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin’s, recent comments on his government’s Shared Island Unit. As we have noted before Mr Martin is not a United Irelander. But he is An Taoiseach with a constitutional obligation to promote Irish unity and the leader of Fianna Fáil, a party with Irish unity as  its primary objective. So some may think he should set aside his  own narrow stunted  personal and unambitious views in order to fulfill his offical duties. And implement the Good Friday Agreement while he is at it. Surely that ’ s what a Taoiseach should do?  Nope. That ’ s not the way it works. As we know Mr Martin is not the first Taoiseach not to promote Irish unity. Indeed he is one of a long line. But this is  to miss the point. I have a certain sympathy with Mr Martin. His predecessors had the luxury of wrapping the green flag around themselves when it suited them. They could wax lyrical about t...

  An appeal to Irish America This US Presidential election race is its final stretch. It’s probably one of the most watched and bitter in modern American history. In recent weeks the electoral battle between President Trump and Vice President Biden has taken many twists and turns as each appeal to voters for support. In particular, how Trump and Biden are addressing the Coronavirus pandemic is probably the single biggest issue dominating the news agenda. It is also important to remember that this election is about more than who will be President. Every Congressional seat is also up for re-election and a third of the seats in the Senate. Irish America is a huge constituency within the US. Around 40 million claim Irish roots. Where once it voted predominantly Democratic the voting pattern reflects wider US society. Consequently, the Irish American vote is important in this election. Many within that constituency continue to be keenly interested in the Irish peace process and the ...

  On being Seventy Two. I celebrated my seventy second birthday last week. Seventy two is closer to eighty Than it is to sixty. Or fifty. Or forty.  Or thirty. Or twenty.  But I know that I will never be sixty. Or fifty. Or forty. Or thirty. Or twenty. Ever again. Sin é. That’s the way of it. Thats life. But will I ever be eighty? Nobody knows. That’s the mystery of it. The wonder of it. The adventure of it. And the hope. Me? I hope to know my grandchildren’s grandchildren.(But not too  soon a thaiscí) That’s impossible say the naysayers. Nothing is impossible I reply. Content that We will find out in the end. Well some of us will. Until then I will try to live every day Like  it is my last day. And eventually I will be right. But from now until then I am sure The best is yet to come. Fool Me  Once ......... When Boris Johnson tells you that his government is determined to defend the Good Friday Agreement – don’t...

  Another part of our history demolished Last week 40 Herbert Park, the home of the only leader of the 1916 Rising to be killed in action, was demolished in a shameful act of political and corporate vandalism and greed. The O’Rahilly - Michael Joseph O'Rahilly was shot by British soldiers as he and others attacked a British machine gun position in an effort to cover the retreat from the burning GPO on Friday evening 28 April.   As he lay bleeding to death in a doorway The O’Rahilly wrote a last note to his wife:   ‘Written after I was shot. Darling Nancy I was shot leading a rush up Moore Street and took refuge in a doorway. While I was there I heard the men pointing out where I was and made a bolt for the laneway I am in now. I got more [than] one bullet I think. Tons and tons of love dearie to you and the boys and to Nell and Anna. It was a good fight anyhow. Please deliver this to Nannie O' Rahilly, 40 Herbert Park, Dublin. Goodbye Darling. The demolition of ...

  Brexit and the disunited Kingdom The Brexit crisis has at times been surreal and bizarre.  The Unionist parties embraced Brexit claiming, as many Tories do, that leaving the EU would make Britain great again! On the back of the unsuccessful referendum on Scottish independence they asserted that Brexit would solidify the ‘United Kingdom’. This has not happened. Consequently, the referendum campaign in 2016 and the debate since then relied on lies, misrepresentation, and a peculiar form of English jingoism. This column has no desire to live in a ‘Kingdom’. Even if the High Kings of Ireland came back and if Ted became Ard Rí, as was his ambition once upon a time, I would remain unimpressed. So when the King is actually foisted upon us by dint of colonialism and an accident of birth, hers and mine, my dissenter instincts come to the fore. I want to live in harmonious accord with the people of our nearest offshore island - closer even than Tóraigh - and if they want a Kingdom...