NI Centenary

[nivilla1982]

NI 100: Northern Ireland centenary commemorations revealed

Plans to celebrate NI's centenary include a concert, a special post-mark and a church service.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[nivilla1982]

Sinn Fein isolated as only Executive party to veto monument marking centenary of Northern Ireland
Sinn Fein has emerged as the only Executive party which rejected a simple monument in the grounds of Stormont to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland.
In January the DUP, UUP and TUV wrote to the Assembly Commission - a committee of MLAs which manages Stormont estate matters - proposing a stone monument with a map of Northern Ireland, acknowledging the centenary of its creation and offering to cover the cost in full.
However instead of offering constructive feedback, Sinn Fein has instead rejected it outright. The party said it would have been more appropriate if unionists who proposed the stone “had first discussed this proposal with the other parties”. It also said that the design signified a failed state which did not offer a template for the future.
The SDLP responded yesterday that it recognises the importance of this centenary year to communities across Northern Ireland.

“It is important that we find a way of reflecting the stark experiences of partition and the formation of Northern Ireland and its impact on people,” a spokesman said. “In a spirit of generosity, we were therefore supportive of the proposal which would have come at no cost to taxpayers and clearly had a great deal of meaning for unionists.”

Alliance also confirmed it supported the proposal as “a modest plan to commemorate a significant event”. It added: “The stone was intended for the Stormont Estate and was only one component of an overall series of proposals to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland this year.”

TUV leader Jim Allister responded that the Assembly’s 2016-2021 Good Relations Action Plan committed to ‘the promotion of good relations between persons of differing religious belief, political opinion or racial group and is committed to challenging sectarianism and racism’.

He added: “In rejecting out of hand the proposal of a monument, which would not involve any cost to the public purse, marking the centenary of Northern Ireland I believe the Commission has self-evidently failed to live up to this.
“The design of the monument and the proposed wording is deliberately uncontroversial and it would have been an appropriate way to acknowledge the occasion while promoting respect and equality. Yet Sinn Fein, who like to talk loudest about equality and everyone being equal, stand exposed yet again.”

Slugger O’Toole Editor Mick said: “The SDLP’s more positive position and general outlook on the increasing diversity of the people of Northern Ireland shows the Sinn Féin response for what it really is, a cheap sectarian reflex to a reasonable request that comes at zero cost to the taxpayer.”

He added that nationalist parties that support the Good Friday Agreement also affirm the existence of NI.

Commentator Malachi O’Doherty said Sinn Féin has made a run of bad decisions. “This makes me wonder if the talent at the top, the people who are thinking through policies and strategies, are just not that bright?” he said.

“Look at their campaign around the refreshing of the electoral register, their response to the policing of the Seam Graham bookies massacre commemoration, their decision to abstain from the abortion vote; it all smacks of a party that is delegating its thinking to people who are not very clever or consistent.”

Arlene Foster, Steve Aiken and Jim Allister responded that those they represent are left to ponder that if this is how unionists are treated in NI “just how much more oppressive would our treatment be” in the ‘New Ireland’ Sinn Fein promotes.

The News Letter asked Sinn Fein if it was open to improving the proposal and if it was happy with how unionists had facilitated the Easter Rising centenary. However the party declined to offer any response.

Sinn Fein isolated as only Executive party to veto monument marking centenary of Northern Ireland

Sinn Fein has emerged as the only Executive party which rejected a simple monument in the grounds of Stormont to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland.

www.newsletter.co.uk

 

[Ashtree]

You should be delighted with their response. A stupid and unnecessary own goal. They seem to be competing with the DUP now, to see which one of them can score the most own goals. Maybe the voters will catch on, and swing to the centre ground unionist, nationalist and other party’s.

Meanwhile another interesting headline the shinners won’t like.

On St Patrick’s Day, the church leaders and the Taoiseach spoke up for Ireland at its very best

A letter from Dr Philip McGarry:

www.newsletter.co.uk

 

[M-J-G]

You should be delighted with their response. A stupid and unnecessary own goal. They seem to be competing with the DUP now, to see which one of them can score the most own goals. Maybe the voters will catch on, and swing to the centre ground unionist, nationalist and other party’s.

Meanwhile another interesting headline the shinners won’t like.

On St Patrick’s Day, the church leaders and the Taoiseach spoke up for Ireland at its very best

A letter from Dr Philip McGarry:

www.newsletter.co.uk

That won't happen, each side is too afraid to move from the Paisley Party or the RA as it would mean dividing the loyalist and republican vote.

Meanwhile Michelle and Arlene just keep laughing

 

[nivilla1982]

You should be delighted with their response. A stupid and unnecessary own goal. They seem to be competing with the DUP now, to see which one of them can score the most own goals. Maybe the voters will catch on, and swing to the centre ground unionist, nationalist and other party’s.

Meanwhile another interesting headline the shinners won’t like.

On St Patrick’s Day, the church leaders and the Taoiseach spoke up for Ireland at its very best

A letter from Dr Philip McGarry:

www.newsletter.co.uk

The PSF social media team isn't as sharp as usual the last wee while

 

[nivilla1982]

NI100: Michael D Higgins defends decision not to attend centenary event

Michael D Higgins says the title of the church service to be held in Armagh had become "political".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[M-J-G]

I doubt he'll be missed that much.

Maybe if they hadn't invited him under the wrong title he might have been more likely to attend.

Apart from political point scorers, who cares?

 

[The Agrarian]

Since when did the Republic of Ireland cease to be called the Republic of Ireland?

Ironically, he has just politicised a cross community event by declining to attend. What a prat. The RC bishop unfortunately didn't hold him to account, but chose to pander to his inflated ego - I suppose he needs his ear at some point and is just too scared to ruffle feathers. Somebody stick a pin in him and let some air out. I'll bet Mary Robinson would be going if she still had his job.

But I suppose you're right MJG. If that's way he wants it, he can stay rightly on his side of the border then. At least we know where we really stand with him. He doesn't want to know us. He has certainly let the moderate outreaching people of his country down, and damaged cross-community confidence in what was to be an inclusive event. Shame. Not fit for the job.

 

[Ashtree]

Bless my soul. Such righteous indignation over this. Reflect my dear chaps on the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 rising in Dublin. The same rising which led to the foundation of the ROI.
Unionist politicians of all hues, indignantly declined invitations to attend. Bless ‘em!

Now back to Uachtarain na h-Éireann, (President of Ireland), he should in my opinion have accepted the invite to this event. Equally the convoluted and downright ridiculous title given to the event, was politically motivated and designed to make attendance by MD, as tricky as possible. There was a mischievous hand at play here.

 

[The Agrarian]

But we did send our head of state on a big visit, where she bowed her head before the monument to the rebels. A fair enough effort I'd say.

 

[Ashtree]

But we did send our head of state on a big visit, where she bowed her head before the monument to the rebels. A fair enough effort I'd say.

Yes, the Queen laid a wreath at the garden of remembrance, whilst the Irish Army band played “God Save The Queen” in the background. How unthinkable was that in the not so distant past.

BUT, remember that was not on foot of a written invitation which specifically spelt out words to the effect of “breaking the Empire or breaking the union“, for example. The official Irish government invitation to the Queen was planned down to the very minuscule detail. There was no possible way, her constitutional duties could in any way, be compromised by her visit. Officials on the British and Irish sides, made 101% sure all angles were covered. That’s statecraft in action for you.

Now in this NI case, no such planning took place, and as I said politics took precedent over statecraft. The title of the event, was deliberately designed to entrap MD. Still though, he should on balance have gone to the ceremony. Ignoring the pettiness of the minute detail, would have been a better option.

 

[M-J-G]

Since when did the Republic of Ireland cease to be called the Republic of Ireland?

Ironically, he has just politicised a cross community event by declining to attend. What a prat. The RC bishop unfortunately didn't hold him to account, but chose to pander to his inflated ego - I suppose he needs his ear at some point and is just too scared to ruffle feathers. Somebody stick a pin in him and let some air out. I'll bet Mary Robinson would be going if she still had his job.

But I suppose you're right MJG. If that's way he wants it, he can stay rightly on his side of the border then. At least we know where we really stand with him. He doesn't want to know us. He has certainly let the moderate outreaching people of his country down, and damaged cross-community confidence in what was to be an inclusive event. Shame. Not fit for the job.

What's a bishop got to do with anything, a leader of a group that congregate due to them having a common superstition has nothing to do with running a country.

If Micky's title is the president of Ireland, then to invite him as something else isn't an invite.
If whomever invited him was that keen for him to be there they'd have made sure they knew how to invite him.


I have a friend who won't open a letter if his address is written as Co Derry.
I guess technically it's not his address, so he cannot be classed as being wrong.

 

[The Agrarian]

 

[nivilla1982]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1438878637374251012

 

[JimAndy]

Lies upon lies, you sure old Higgins isn't a Politician.

 

[Joe]

Lies upon lies, you sure old Higgins isn't a Politician.

Elected head of state, for all his faults he’s an excellent president. He was never going to something celebrating partition, no snub here just deflection by DUP

 

[M-J-G]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1438878637374251012

View attachment 986336

Who posts copies of private correspondence publicly, was it Micky, Trev or Heather or one of their staff?

 

[Ashtree]

Lies upon lies, you sure old Higgins isn't a Politician.

For your information he was a career politician of the Labour Party. Throughout his very colourful political career, he was one on the most vehement and outspoken voices down here, condemning SF, the Provos etc, and all which they stood for.
As president of course he is apolitical and has visited NI on very many occasions as president. Curiously though DUP leaders and members ALWAYS boycott events which he attends. Ho, ho.
The very same DUP, now try to entrap him with their weasel worded invitation. Hopefully, one of the final stings of that rabid, rancid, Pope bashing, Sodomy saving, UK union wrecking bunch of half wit, flat earther, conversion therapy, political has beens.
As a political force, you guys on here who support the union, would be well served if Doug Beattie, absolutely wiped them off the map at the next election. They need total and utter electoral annihilation. Total. Not one of them should be left standing. Not one. Bless ‘em, but the Shinners would miss them dearly. They are worth a nice few votes for Shinners you know, with their looney tunes nonsence.
Here‘s the bad news though. Too many of them will sadly survive. And their lasting legacy will be the Protocol and the surrender of the union they tried and failed to draw MD into celebrating. History will record that the DUP collaborated in the breaking of the Union, whilst MD was busy minding his own business and writing a few poems. Ironic, eh!!

 

[DrWazzock]

The politics of Ireland seem from England. The mind boggles.

 

[nivilla1982]

The invitation makes no mention of "celebrating" partition?