Blog

I didn’t take much notice of the Queen’s visit to Ireland when it was being arranged.  I guess, like most people, I hoped that it would pass peacefully and there wouldn’t be the same scenes we saw during the “Love Ulster” parades a few years ago.  I didn’t really think it was such a big deal.  That was until tonight, when watching the 9 o'clock news. I’m not the most patriotic man in Ireland though I am very content in my Irishness. I cried with happiness during Italia 90 when we beat Romania on penalities.  I even wear something green on St. Patrick’s Day.  However, I never got the whole significance of the impact England has had on our identities - this chip on our shoulder.  Why did the arrival of this symbol of Englishness make so many people feel somewhat uncomfortable? The events that...