A Boy named Jay: 2024 – Momentum toward Unity Polls set to increase: A New Year Wish

 ABoy named Jay

Idid a book signing for Christmas at An Fhuiseog’s stand in the Kennedy Centre.It was a pleasant hour of banter and craic, meeting old friends and making newones. Gerry Kelly was there just before me but he escaped when I arrived. So itwas just me and the punters. And RG and Maggie who was selling all matter ofgifts for An Fhuiseog. 

Thebook buyers were a mixed bunch. Grannies and Grandas as well as young couplesor lone shoppers. Mostly locals with  a few stragglers from out of town.From Tyrone and Tandragee, Kilrea and Dublin, two sisters from Australia,relatives of the late Albert Fry, Gael and renowned singer í nGaeilge. SomeNewry neuks and a family from Dundalk. 

Therewere even folks from North Belfast. 

Everyonewas in good form, including the wheel chair warriors and walking stick users.There was an epidemic of young people. Selfie aficionados. TheTic  Toc generation. Full of craic.

Andthere was a boy named Jay. I noticed him hovering shyly around the table whereI was seated. A dark haired neatly dressed young fellah on his own. Eventuallyhe approached our table.

‘Howmuch is The Black Mountain book? He asked.

 ‘Twelvequid’ I replied. 

 Hewas obviously disappointed. 

 ‘Iwas going to get it for my Daddy for Christmas’.

 ‘Howmuch have you got’? I asked.

 Hescooped a handful of coins out of his pocket. 

 ‘Six pounds and fifty pence’ he replied. 

 ‘Giveme a fiver’ I said.

 Hehesitated.

 ‘Ihave to get my lunch’ he said. 

 Buthe wasnt being calculating. Or cynical. Merely thinking aloud innocently theway young people do when they have options to consider. 

 ‘Whatsyour name?’  I asked.

 ‘Jay’he said. 

 ‘Wudyou be availible for negotiations at Hillsborough?’ I mused. 

 ‘Givethe wee lad a book’ RG ordered me with a smile,  the way he does whenhe gets all bossy and assertive.

 So I did. Jay smiledangelically at us as I signed his book. I hope his Daddy liked his present. Jayis what Christmas is all about. 

 Ahappy new year to you and your Da and Mammy and all your family. 

 

 

2024 – Momentum toward Unity Polls set to increase

After weeks, months, of public and privatenegotiations it is still not clear as 2023 draws to a close what the future ofthe Executive and Assembly will be. The British government says it has deliveredits final word on the issue. The various party positions remain as they were.We shall see what the New Year brings on this.

In the meantime, with or without the NorthernAssembly, what we can be certain of is that 2024 will see the momentum grow forthe unity referendum promised in the Good Friday Agreement. In addition, with ageneral election in the South on the horizon, the issue of a Citizens’ Assemblyto discuss the future of Ireland will take on an increasing importance.

2023 saw the conversation on constitutional changegathering strength. The Sinn Féin Commission on the Future of Ireland concludedthe year with its 11th public initiative. This time in the GalwayGaeltacht. There were also stalls at farming events, North and South, stalls atFreshers day in the universities, and leaflets distributed everywhere.

Meetings are already planned for Fermanagh and WestTyrone in February and initial conversations have begun about similar meetingsbeing held in the USA and Canada. Submissions to the Commission on the kind offuture you the reader would like can be sent to www.sinnfein.ie/futureofireland

2023 also saw the emergence of a voices from theProtestant/Unionist/Loyalist section of our people openly considering and insome cases advocating, the merits of Irish unity. The year saw space beingcreated for people who think this way to participate in events held by the SinnFéin Commission. Events were also held by the New Ireland Group whichfacilitated people from Protestant, Unionist and British backgrounds whosupport maintaining the union with Britain having their say.

 

In the last year the Derry City & StrabaneDistrict Council working group on Irish Unity initiated a consultation amongratepayers on Irish unity. The first phase of this consultation resultedin hundreds of submissions on the topic of Irish unity. There have beenIrish unity working groups set up in Belfast City Council, Newry, Mourne andDown District Council, Mid Ulster Council and Donegal County Council.

The SDLP’s New Ireland Commission also held aseries of public events and the Irish News came out in support of a Citizens’Assembly. Ireland’s Future worked hard during the year with public eventsattracting people from the business community and academia, as well as a seriesof meetings with political parties across the island. 

On 15 June 2024 Ireland’s Future will be holding amajor conference – Pathway to Change – in the SSE Arena in Belfast. Among thosealready committed to speak are Professor Brendan O’Leary, Jarlath Burns,President of the GAA, Mary Lou McDonald TD, Ivana Bacik TD, John Alderdice,David Adams, trade union leader Mick Lynch, Claire Hanna MP and Claire Mitchelland many more. Tickets are already available and given that Ireland’s Futurepast events have sold out now is the time to book. https://www.ticketmaster.ie/ireland-s-future-presents-pathway-to-change-belfast-15-06-2024/event/38005F42B36C13BC

In August An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledgedthat we are now ‘on the path to unification’. He said that he believes “therewill be a United Ireland in my lifetime.” Responding Mary Lou McDonald urgedthe Irish government to begin planning for that future. Leo Varadkar she saidhas “correctly said that we’re on the path to Irish unity. The question and thechallenge now for him and for the government is what are they going to do aboutthat?”

Throughout 2023 United Ireland  activists havebeen involved in walking for unity, swimming for unity and running for unity aswell as planting Crann na Saoirse – a freedom tree- in support of Irish Unity.

Gaels le Chéile too continues to attract growingsupport from GAA grass root members. A packed hall during Féile an Phobail inAugust heard a senior panel of Gaels articulate the importance being active onthe need for a Citizens’ Assembly. The panel included Antrim Gaels Jane Adamsand Paddy Cunningham, former Tipperary hurler Timmy Hammersley, Kerry nativeand former Offaly senior football manager Stephen Wallace, Margaret Flynn ofO’Donovan Rossa and Niamh McElduff Carrickmore footballer. Jarlath BurnsPresident Elect of the GAA was in the audience.

Mary Lou McDonald speaking at Sinn Féin’s Ard Fheisin November said that this is the time for our generation to write the nextchapter on unity – to build a new Ireland. She said: “Government must plan fordemocratic constitutional change. That means a Citizens Assembly on unity. Theday is coming when everyone on this island will have their say in referendums.Each vote counting equally, no vetoes, no shifting of the goal posts. Momentumis building, the conversation is live, history is happening now. Irish Unity isthe very best opportunity for the future. In the words of Rita O’Hare, “We mustkeep going. A United Ireland 
lies ahead”.

So, 2023 was a very busy year. Lots ofactivism. 2024 is already shaping up to be even busier. So, join the campaignsfor a Citizens’ Assembly and for the unity referendums. Have your say on thefuture and help shape the new Ireland.

 

A New YearWish

Bliain Úr Faoi Mhaise Daoibhse Go Leir.

I received this verse in a Christmas card. Very appropriate.

Our New Year Wish

Peace and justice where life is hell;

In Gaza, the West Bank and Israel,

In Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan,

In South Sudan and Pakistan,

In Myanmar, Mali and Somalia,

In Yemen, Chad and Ethiopia,

In Cameron, Darfur and Syria

In Mozambique, Congo and Libya

In Lebanon, Kosovo and Iraq,

And especially, Nagorno Karabakh

(The last is personal, as you may know,

For family there, a desperate blow)

This list goes on; in this cruel time

Hope and history do not rhyme.

But wars must end and fighting cease.

Witness today, Ireland at peace.

So friends and family, far and near,

Do not despair of the coming year.