Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Storm-ont in a Teacup

"Hello darkness, my old friend..." Art Garfunkel: Deputy First Minister in the new Northern Ireland Assembly

It seems appropriate (or inappropriate as the case may be) that I should return to blogging on a yet another supposedly "historic" day for Northern Ireland (suppressed yawn). You may accuse me of being cynical, but haven't we heard it all before? To be fair though, I never thought I'd see messrs Paisley & McGuinness Inc sitting down to negotiate a deal. It certainly looks like the Doc has mellowed in his old age.
Tony, in the final phase of his reign of course seized the opportunity, grinning like a Cheshire cat throughout, desperate to be remembered for bringing peace to one jurisdiction rather than aiding an abetting an illegal and pointless invasion of another resulting in prolonged sectarian bloodshed, religious fundamentalism and a future of instability. What goes around comes around.

The media trotted out the usual clichés "Northern Ireland can finally look forward to a peaceful and prsoperous future on a day which no-one could have dreamed of 10 years ago, etc, etc..." And didn't the whole thing look so stage-managed? The musical accompaniment, the banter, the pomp and ceremony, Bertie (in a perfect photo op before the Irish elections - just where did all those brown envelopes go?), Tony and Marty with self-congratulatory handshakes all round, Ian Snr cracking up at his own jokes, Ian Jnr basking in the glory.

Although neither Sinn Féin or the DUP are my party of choice, I welcome any initiative that can potentially improve the quality of life for the people of Northern Ireland, but the cynic in me wonders just how long the latest power-sharing deal can last.

2 comments:

CW said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lady Fotherington-Smethers said...

You need to think positively Ciaran - I feel that peace will last and hopefully the celtic tiger will spread its claws out to Norn Iron.