The miracles of a street crossing and a handshake.
The Queen’s recent visit and the much-signalled meeting with Martin McGuinness was the focus of unquantifiable journalistic comment. Most of it was predictable. Much of it was superficial.
Much was made of the now peaceful times in Northern Ireland. Whilst rejoicing in the changed atmosphere in the place I call home, and thankful to God in my prayers for it, I rather suspect that I am not alone in my residual paganism in keeping my fingers crossed that this expression and time of peace is not a mirage. For sure there is still much to be concerned about.
Before we get carried away consider this. At a basic level look at the actions of so-called loyalists in Carrickfergus who deliberately positioned flags close to a Roman Catholic church and school and the unrelated declaration that Crumlin, also in County Antrim and in the Diocese of Connor, is now claimed as “a Catholic village” and consequently local Orangemen should no longer host their colleagues from their local district. And these are both areas where the local churches have attempted over a significant period to foster understanding and mutual esteem.
At a more sinister level, there is the Unionist nightmare, and perhaps it is also shared with the constitutionalist Nationalist, that when a deal is made with Sinn Fein in whatever age or form, there are always those who refuse the peace agreed in their irredentist claim for a Unionist free Ireland. For every Collins there is a de Valera. For every Official IRA there is a Provisional IRA, and for a Provisional IRA which accepts a cross-community agreement to live by the ballot box rather than armed conflict, there is a Dissident IRA and a Continuity IRA.
However, to continue emphasising the positive, welcome gestures have been made in local government with the election by local councils of minority councillors as mayors. The downside at the super county council at Stormont, Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance parties seem to be excluded from effective decision making in key areas. Once again, I would posit that it is still a case of thanking God for what progress has been made and still keep our fingers crossed. There is still a long way for this journey to travel.
Much was made of the alleged churlishness of Sinn Fein over the Queen’s visit to the Republic of Ireland last year. For sure its non-involvement was noted in places where it mattered such as the White House and The Hill in Washington where the capital of the Queen and the then President of Ireland is rightly of the highest order. And, a majority in the Republic felt that the Sinn Fein stance lacked the spirit which was abroad, and that registered mightily with the party. It has gone as far as it can go for the present in Northern Ireland and its most immediate goal is to be the power or the power broker in the Dail.
For perhaps the first time, Sinn Fein which has the most adept and sensitive public relations antennae in Ireland was outflanked by the deftness of the British monarchy and the dignity of the two heads of state. The Archbishop of Armagh was accurate in emphasising in his sermon in Enniskillen that these two ladies both represented a shared spirituality which was nurtured by their respective religious heritage and identity.
In yesterday’s Times, Lord Bew who lectures in politics at Queen’s University stated that the input of the former UK ambassador to Dublin made for the success of the royal visit to the Republic, and that the same hand was heavily involved in this week’s engagements in Northern Ireland.
That may be so, but those who may think that the House of Windsor is inept at communication should look to the subtle preparations for the trip to Dublin. One example for consideration. The ‘wedding of the decade’ of the royal grandson and future monarch in Westminster Abbey had a simple but key set of signals. The bride wore Carrickmacross lace, and of all the uniforms at the groom’s disposal, of course it was that of the Irish Guards which was chosen. The cameras had no alternate but to linger on its readily identifiable collar dogs of silver shamrocks. Even the most politically colourblind could see the message – never mind the bonus of all-Ireland support from ‘the Micks’ regimental family an extends well beyond the Tipperary to Trooper’s Lane axis.
Have no doubt that Martin Maguinness has copper-fastened his place in Irish and British history. With a personal republican-activist history which is as bona-fide as De Valera, he has made an effort and a gesture which must not be written off by cynicism. I am one of those who found myself having to decide whether or not I would deal with him when Sinn Fein came into power at Stormont. I believe that the education boards of the three main reformed churches under the guidance of Lord Eames responded in a risk taking way which was Christ informed. These churches had said to the proponents of physical violence, “Give up the guns and try politics”. They did so, and Martin Maguinness became Minister for Education. He proved to be a ready listener, and an improvement on some of the direct rule ministers who had preceded him. He had his personal history and I had mine. The accident of birth, and its combination of place, religion and culture, never mind political affiliation had to be recognised.
The presence of Cardinal Brady at the service in Enniskillen also betokens shared friendships and mutual understandings which have been wrought and nurtured over decades of violence.
Enniskillen was a most fitting commencement for the Queen’s visit. As it unfolded I prayerfully gave thanks again for the witness of that outstanding Christian, Gordon Wilson, a Methodist layman, whose daughter Marie was one of the fatalities on that Remembrance Day. His forgiveness still outstrips my imagination of the capabilities of what it is to be Christ like. I thought also of the gentle witness of Bishop Gordon McMullan in Clogher who despite having to cope with the deaths of policemen and UDR men, started a relationship with the local Roman Catholic bishop. This was further developed by Bishops Brian Hannon and Joseph Duffy. Exemplary leadership to the churches and the community – and significant on the journey to last Tuesday.
The image of the Dean of Clogher escorting the Queen across the street for her first visit to an Irish Roman Catholic church would have been a mere publicity gimmick had it not been built on years of honest Christian endeavour and dialogue. This sight made impact, but it must be recalled as a symbol of work undertaken, and still to be further developed. But what a milestone marker.
The demands for tickets for the event at Stormont was a further underscoring of the loyalty of a most significant section of the northern population to the British monarchy and way of life. Any valid political analysis of Ireland today could not ignore that. The symbolism of such support meeting in the grounds of Stormont where a Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister is an effective power player is a subtlety and a significance which far outdistances any predictions of the political commentators of a decade ago. Indeed it was not even on their radar screens.
For certain, the scenarios of the past week would not have come about without the influences exercised in a variety of ways by clergy, laity and churches which despite their many failings, worked and witnessed for peace albeit at times haltingly. That said, what has happened in the two recent visits by the Queen to Ireland could rightly be called miraculous.
Hopefully the images of the past week and the record of dialogue on which they are based, will stimulate further consideration of peace winning and be an incentive for the path ahead. What has been achieved is praiseworthy, but it is fragile and needs ongoing prayerful support, effective encouragement. resourcing and practical endeavour. Where now for the Irish churches?
Houston McKelvey