We must listen to each other: My Big Toe: Tom Dunn - the Peasant Patriot

 

Catherine Pollock, Catherine Cooke and Alison Wallace in Derry

We must listen to each other

Efforts by the Britishgovernment and the unionist parties to stymie the conversation on futureconstitutional change has actually brought a greater focus on the growingmomentum around the upcoming unity referendum.  The criticism of AnTaoiseach Leo Varadkar by the British Secretary of State and a range ofunionist voices for daring to suggest that a United Ireland will happen in hislifetime is the latest example of unionist and Tory efforts to delegitimise thegoal of Irish Unity.

In their view it is not acceptableto promote Irish Unity. This is presented by them as dangerous anddestabilising and is criticised and condemned with contempt.  Theintention is to create a row so that United Irelanders will be quiet and to misrepresentrepublican and nationalist aspirations as second class.  Nonsense, blusterand feigned outrage will not stop the conversation about the future. Listeningand learning makes more sense. 

Twenty five years ago theGood Friday Agreement acknowledged the “equally legitimate,political aspirations” of nationalists and unionists. The talks participants,including the Irish and British governments, and subsequently the majority ofcitizens in a referendum, accepted that the future had to be one based onpartnership, equality and mutual respect.  The Agreement recognised thebirthright of all the people of the North to identify themselves and to beaccepted as Irish or British. A referendum process was agreed to determine thefuture constitutional shape of the island of Ireland

The DUP and the Tory government do not accept theseprinciples. That much is clear. They want to delay and dilute the changes thatare coming. But in their hearts they know they cannot stop them. That much isclear also. The unity genie is out off the bottle. It is not going inagain. 

In recent weeks Sinn Féin’s Commission on theFuture of Ireland has held two very successful public events. One was at thePloughing Championship last week in Laois. 

This put a focus on the benefitsthat Irish unity will bring to rural Ireland. The other event was held in Derrywhere three women from the unionist section of our community participated in anevent billed as: “Exploring Northern Protestant Identities and Culture in aShared Future.”  The three participants – all community based activists -Catherine Pollock, Catherine Cooke and Alison Wallace are from that broadtradition.

The event was very informative and the three womenspoke eloquently of the concerns and of the diversity of opinions andtraditions that exist within unionism. Speaking afterward Chairperson of theevent, Catherine Pollock said that she hoped those who attended would begin tounderstand the “diversity of feeling, traditions and culture among the unionistcommunities.” The conversation ranged across how people can engage and moveforward in civic and political conversations, on the environment, a citizensAssembly on education, the marching bands and much more. Catherine Cooke hopedthat what they said would provide food for thought: “I came in feeling verynervous but leave feeling very good.” Alison Wallace said: “People listened and 

were very respectful.” She described it as a very positive experience.

We need more of these events, of theseconversations. Irish republicans and nationalists must listen carefully andattentively to what our Protestant/Unionists neighbours are saying in all oftheir diversity. And we need to plan for the future.

Thus far the Sinn Féin Commission has held eightpublic events, as well as sectoral engagements. Two more will be held by theCommission in the coming months. There will be a Peoples’ Assembly in Waterfordon 12 October and another through Irish in the Galway Gaeltacht in November.

Incidentally during a recent visit to New York An Taoiseach Leo Varadkarmet US President Joe Biden. He said Mr Biden was very well informed on Irishaffairs and that he asked if there was any way he could help. Mr Varadkar says:“I told him we had no specific ask at the moment …”

It’s little wonder the British governmentdisrespects the Irish government the way it does. An Taoiseach needs to listenand learn also. And to work with those who are prepared to help. In Ireland.And internationally. 

 

My Big Toe

Jim Donnelly is a Springhallion.His mother, May Donnelly, was one of the indomitable warrior women from the Upper Springfield who faced down hordes ofBritish soldiers and RUC officers for decades while also combatting poverty anddiscrimination and rearing a good family. These mighty women are to be found incommunities everywhere. The local ones are too many to name but I remember themall and I am grateful for their friendship and protection and comradeship. AndI am always uplifted by the tenacity and good humour of these working classheroines, mostly mothers of large families, including Mrs Donnelly. 

Little wonder then that shehas a central role in Jim Donnelly’s book - My Big Toe. Jim is a communityactivist from Springhill. Like many of his neighbours he is also a formerprisoner -he did  nine years hard time.  His life as a communityactivist  is dedicated, again like many others, to tacklinginequalities and developing a better society for all with a particular focus onyoung people especially through his role as joint CEO with the Active CommunitiesNetwork.

Jim’s journey through writing wasa difficult one. At school he was dismissed as ‘slow at everything hedoes.’  He says he became like a ghost in the classroom. ‘I was therebut no one really noticed’. 

In prison he read a lot. Withgreat difficulty. Ditto with his writing. It was a struggle. After his releasefrom prison he endured anxiety, depression and mental health issues. He thenwent on to do a Higher Professional Diploma in Counselling. As part of thiscourse he had to keep a journal. This enabled him to explore his life and hisexperiences. Later he studied for a Masters Degree. Again more reading andwriting. More challenges. 

Jim almost abondoned this workbecause it was too hard for him but his tutor got him to talk to an educationalpsychologist. She told him he was dyslexic. He understood then why he had such a hard time with reading andwriting, why school work was so difficult. This gave him the impetus tocomplete his masters degree - a great accomplishment for a disadvantagedlad  from Springhill. Jim is one of the many men and women whosucceeded against the odds. In all kinds of ways. In all sectors. And ourchildren or grandchildren have done even better.  

Jim’s book - poems andprose-  came to be published through the efforts of his friendsespecially Danny Barkley. When Jim began writing on his phone he shared hismusings on WhatsAppwith Danny, Harry Connolly, Conor , Louise and other friends and family. Dannythought Jim’swork should be published. He talked to Harry about this  but didn’t tell Jim, probably as Jim acknowledgesbecause  “Iwouldn’thave been convinced”. MyBig Toe was published as a gift to Jim by his friends.  

So well done Danny andcompany. 

My BigToe is brutally honest reflection on life growing up under militaryoccupation, in a large poor working class family in a republican community inthe time of conflict. It is frank about the traumas, hardships and indignities.The ups and downs. But it is also funny and full of love. My Big Toe is a taleof redemption. When I asked Jim how people can get a copy he  laughedand said  “Sendthem to Danny Barkley”.

My Big Toeis  available in limited numbers from the author at ActiveCommunities Network, Twin Spires, Falls Road. 

Tom Dunn – the Peasant Patriot

Well done to the people ofRostrevor who last week invited former President Mary McAleese to unveil abronze statue to Tom Dunn – the Peasant Patriot - a local hedge school masterand United Irish leader who taught ‘The Rights of Man’ by Tom Paine and thewritings of Wolfe Tone to local patriots. In 1797 Tom’s barn was raided by theBritish and he was captured. He refused to name any of his comrades. He wasordered to be lashed. He died, aged 62, after 260 lashes. Think about that dearreaders. 260 lashes.