Northern light

Something very odd is happening in Northern Ireland. They’re top of their division in the European Championship qualifiers. In David Healy they’ve a striker that just can’t stop scoring goals. The guy is a machine. Line ‘em up, he’ll shoot and, as like as not, he’ll bulge the oul’ onion sack. Fantastic.

That this signal change of fortune should coincide with the promise from Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams that they would form an executive is interesting to say the least. Wowser’s trousers! What will happen if they actually deliver? Rugby’s triple crown and the cricket World Cup might just be starting points!
Pessimistic I may be, but I don’t see Jeppubelick of Airland qualifying for the finals. But Norn Ir’n look pretty good. Which means we’ll all be Nordies for a while next year. Well, dammit I can live with that. I mean last year we were all Munster for the Heineken final, were we not?!?
Joking apart, that such arch enemies could arrive at a point where they can swallow their bile and agree to powershare for ‘all’ of the people of Northern Ireland is remarkable. The words were all constructive. Paisley spoke of “enormous opportunities”, Adams of “generosity” and “the common good”. Both acknowledged those who had suffered during the conflict.
This momentous event happened at the same time as the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, itself intended to create a political framework within which both ancient and modern conflicts would be contained and dissipated.
It has succeeded to a remarkable degree. There has been a tendency to emphasise the trading aspect of the European Union. That’s how the UK has always seen Europe and British politicians still talk of ‘the Common Market’. Sadly, pathetically, some Irish media adhere to this line. These, in general, would be the ones who splatter us with the lives of largely virtual ‘celebrities’ and Premiership gabble.
But that’s small-minded, parochial rubbish. Europe is about much more than trade. We should know. We’ve embraced and been embraced by Europe. We’ve all done well out of it, everyone on the island. And there’s more to come, to cement the new agenda in Northern Ireland.
Can it be true? A framework established to end two centuries of war between France and Germany is so robust that it can contain the ancient hatreds and prejudices and sectarianism of Northern Ireland. Jeez, that’s some feat.
It wouldn’t happen without some serious change in dynamics and compromises and commitments being made. On BBC NI Ian Paisley the Younger challenged a commentator to acknowledge the achievement, to utter a “wee word of congratulation” to the protagonists, and he was right.
Hats off.
Where now? Well, some time ago, perhaps a decade, Ruairi Quinn said that he foresaw an Ireland that was as rich and boring as Switzerland. The first half is there. We’re rich. Boring may follow (though I hope not).
We can just wish the same for Northern Ireland, to be rich as rich as Ireland, or Luxembourg if you will, and boring… Well, that’ll be a challenge. No axes to grind, no historic grievances, no gripes. It will also expose the extremes in a way that hasn’t been possible for a very long time. There are unpleasant people on both sides of the fence, prejudiced, sectarian, even racist. The new dispensation offers a chance to isolate them. Everyone will benefit, but the chance has to be taken. If not now, it will take another generation and Ian Paisley the Younger will be as old as his dad is now.
In due course Northern Ireland can be so successful that, like its bigger neighbour, hundreds of thousands will flock to it to find work. The 2006 census shows that not only does Ireland now have the same proportion of immigrants as the European average but if you include those Irish not born in Ireland the proportion is significantly higher.
We’ve all benefited greatly and we can only wish the same across the border. That a large immigrant population would soften and confuse ancient animosities is, of course, a major bonus.
So, here we are, at another hinge of history.
When Ireland joined the EEC in 1971 some foresaw that the society would change, that the old ways would fade, that the country would take its place among the nations of Europe (for better in general, but also for worse), that it would leave the old verities behind in favour of new truths.
Some hoped that the same might be true of Northern Ireland. It has taken longer. Heading their division in the European championship is just the start.
Yeah, there’ll be trouble, there’ll be broken heads from time to time, but a change is coming. Even as we speak horizons broaden. The sun rises in the east…
Roll on the day.