Courtesy of Niall O”Dowd, the leading Irish American journalist:
“For the length of The Troubles, North Down was never a hot bed of nationalism, preferring most of the time to send very moderate nationalist politicians to the parliament in Britain.”
North Down has never had an elected nationalist politician, “moderate” or otherwise.
“If you visit Stormont, the seat of government, you see how the massive building with its triumphal statue of Carson looks down from a height on the deprived nationalist neighborhoods below.”
If you Carson had very good eye sight or a pair of binoculars he may indeed see “deprived neighbourhoods” “below”- for example, Ballybeen, Tullycarnet and on a clear day, Braniel perhaps. Not many “nationalist” ones however.
“The history is rife with Protestant triumphalism, Derry, the leading Catholic city still does not have a proper motorway to Belfast – the best roads always led to Protestant towns.”
I was just thinking the same thing the other day as I travelled in my horse and cart down the dirt-track to Newry
“Up until the 1970s and the civil rights movement, there was not even one-man one vote. People with property, always Protestants, were entitled to extra votes.”
Only protestants were allowed to own property pre the 1970s?
Westminster elections since the creation of Northern Ireland were one-man, one vote.
And finally…
“I think I know why Rory McIlroy is happier with his British identity rather than his Irish one”
Going on your historical and geographical “knowledge” displayed here, I sincerely doubt that you do.
Share on Facebook