| Social Commentary and Opinion - Aine MacAodha |
The Legacy of the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland by Aine MacAodha The occupied six counties is where I was born and still reside in. I lived through the troubles and came out the other side. Today although there is a certain amount of peace, the legacy of the troubles lives on and will do for years to come. I have experienced sectarianism first hand, I think most people in the north have and got on with it, it was part and parcel with what went on during the war. The two religions, Catholic and Protestant stood apart and divided from birth, schooling to work, yet today in the midst of peace, sectarianism raises its ugly head as the norm. Just last week a young player of Gaelic football from County Fermanagh was fed up with the sectarian comments at his games that he blew a fuse himself, after putting up with this for years, no one could blame him. The thing about this lad was he was a young protestant man who embraced the game usually played by Catholics, he should be clapped on the back not verbally abused because of his faith. He was of a mixed religious marriage; his mother was a Catholic and his Father was a Protestant. His father was killed during the troubles. The point I’m trying to make, mixed marriages in the north where frowned upon, it was never encouraged not by a long shot, it was a no go, But, it did happen, over and over again across the six counties, Catholic and Protestants did fall in love despite what the headlines might have said about the warring tribes. The legacy left from the ‘Troubles’ is a group of young men and women whose parents crossed the divide, broke down the barricades and married. These youths have formed friendships and say they sometimes feel they don’t fit into either group, Catholic or Protestant, although born into the either side. They accept their backgrounds and have respect for each. I feel they will change a sectarian attitude that ruins lives; they are the lifeline to a country so bitterly divided not just by the British invasion but also by religious hatred and oppression. I’m not for one minute saying that either side didn’t suffer at the hands of their religious counterparts, I did, It wasn’t that long ago a catholic would have been turned down for the job if their was a protestant applying for it no matter how qualified he or she was.. The parents of these children born into a mixed religious marriages must have suffered a great deal from both sides, each side would see this union as a betrayal of sorts, so the newlyweds where left in limbo. Look at the most famous writers from the North of Ireland, to write about the six counties they had to leave as to step on the toes of either would mean trouble, betrayal. We do not want our young leaving, we want them to remain here and build this into a fair and equal country. Today since the leaders of the main political parties have agreed to share power in government, changes are afoot. Oh, there are still the diehards who refuse point-blank to sit in parliament with the opposition, but they will only lose because times are changing. Other political parties are showing interest and that takes me back to the children of all the mixed marriages, they want acknowledgement also. They want to feel they belong, to fit in, they need a voice, and rightly so. One day this country will be whole again, governed by its own people, sharing local and countrywide problems, where sectarianism will be stamped out. I envision a place where other countries in turmoil can look to for an example of how to overcome this religious hatred. Look to the future, to the children of Ireland! |
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