Ireland: Don’t you just love it?

There is often talk about what a united Ireland is. It primarily is viewed as a political discussion. That is not the topic of this blog.

What I am proposing is to look at what does unite us as people and our need to have pride in our heritage.

What divides us?

Ireland has not escaped the social divide that is now trending across the world. The conservative and the liberal are just as opposed in Ireland as they are elsewhere.

In Ireland there are those who look upon the the age of the prominance of the Catholic church with frustration and anger. Thioos angetr led to various social and constitutional changes. The reaction to these changes have resulted in an alienated conservative group. They view the social and constitutional changes of recent times with equal anger and frustration.

There are those who don’t trust mainstream media and those who believe citizen journalisim is a source of dangerous misinformation.

There are those who have reliable sustainable income and those who are struggling to keep house and home together.

I use to believe that Ireland had four great unifying factors of identity: The Finna Fáil political party, The Catholic Church, Radio Telifís Eireann, (The national broadcaster) and The Gaelic Athletic Association, (GAA). As we are now over quater way through the 21st century I consider it fair to say that the football and hurling of the GAA is all that is left.

We, like people in other nations, probably identify more with our social media connections than with the heritage, history and even geography of our own land.

What unites us?

I put it down to two simple words; location and history,

If you are Irish you come from Ireland just the same as all other Irsh people. You have had to put up with disapointing summers, wet and dark winters, and being nice to American tourists.

While we may have varying views on all kinds of significant issues we all agree a soft day of gentle intermitent rain is pleasent in its own way. And we like that it keeps the grass green all year long. We know that Ireland probably has the best beaches in the world and are secretly thankful that the bad weather keeps them realatively free for us to stroll along at our own pace.
While on social issues we are splintered, we still vote very consistently centre. Infact we have never had an overtly left goverment. It is probable that after every election in Ireland there has been the belief amongst us, “Who voted in those wasters?”. Reflecting the typical Irish behaviour of always blaming somoneone else for our troubles.

AND NEED IT BE SAID NOTHING GETS THE PRIDE FLOWING MORE THAN BEATING THE BRITS AT … WELL ANYTHING!!!

Our history is a permanent record of who we are. We all share it. We all have learned it. Our interpetation of it may vary, and what we emphasise is probablly due to our schooling and personal family history.
Still though the reality that we share that history is what unites us. not our understanding of it. Our ability to argue about it is what gives life to the blood in our veins. For example all Irish people know U2 and what they have achieved comercially. But get 10 Irish people over a black beverage on any given night discussing U2 and you will have a lively discussion about everything and anything vaugely related to Bono and the lads with no conclusion and thankfuly no one really cares. All that maters is the craic.

So is their any reason to be proud of being Irish?

Well that is entirely down to you if you are proud to be Irish or not.

Many people aren’t and will quote our litter problem, the huge cost of living here, the depressing weather, the lack of political choice that we have, etc. What was perceived as an oppressive domination of our culture by the Catholic Church still has a tight hold on the older generations.
Then there are those who value the rich heritage of our music, language and sport. It is true that our cultural heritage is vast and deep and we have every reason to be proud of it.
Many of us also appreciate the bit of craic. The way of how we have talked together over the cup of tea on a wet day when there’s nutin’ on the tele and the fire has been lit. Though admitedly that type of fireside chats is rare now.

For me it’s not a question of whether I love Ireland or not, but do I have a fondness for my own place, my own people, my own heritage, my own life.
Cause you see if ypou are Irish, you are Irish. To feel hate toward Ireland is effectively to hate yourself. Why would you do that?

Perhaps the more we learn to accept ourselves the more we will accept this rock upon which we live.
Can we not be proud of who we are?
We are Irish.