Continuing the Horseman theme of an annual appraisal of where things stand annually I will be shortly be posting a blog thingy with a stats heavy analysis of developments throughout the past twelve months. I have received some well intentioned and pertinent comments recently suggesting that I interpret and give my opinions rather more forcefully and somewhat less concisely. My weakness may be traced back to a Christian Brother who insisted on a brilliantly worded and ruthlessely edited two paragraph essay in preference to two pages of “waffle”. I agree with the points above and my new years resolution is two part.
- To be clearer in my opinions and interpretation of the facts as they develop
- I would like to gain a broad view of things so I will be inviting more guest bloggers onboard. Particularly Unionists.
I am very aware that this blog. although only 6 months old, has gained a very wide readership. To be honest, I would have been happy with a couple of dozen readers but we have hit nearly 2000 on the best days. That bestows a responsibility on my part to all the people who read this.
I would also encourage those who may be reluctant to please engage and post comments. We don’t bite. Everyone is welcome as long as normal manners are maintained. A particular word of thanks is owed to those who have commented here. Out of over 1100 comments, I have not had to block a single one. That speaks volumes to me. Thank You.
Anyway, my New Year message is thank you for reading and, it isn’t perfect here, but we are all learning together. Let the New Year be a better one 
Hi Bangordub
I followed Horseman closely and therefore was delighted to find this site of yours. Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to more analysis of the census figures of the north east.
Could I pose just two questions to yourself or your followers ?
1. Could the Irish flag be legally placed atop Belfast City Council if a majority of the councilors voted for it and
2. When dod you think Irish citizens of the 6 counties will be allowed to vote for an
tUachtarán.
Looking forward to another year which will hopefully bring Irish unity one small bit closer.
Hi dublin6w,
Thank you for your kind words!
In answer to your questions,
1. I don’t believe the Tricolour could legally placed atop the City Hall as this would imply legal juristiction which doesn’t currently exist. That situation would of course change in the event of joint sovereignty or a re-united Ireland. Alex Maskey when elected Lord Mayor famously hung both the Union Flag and the Tricolour in his office during his tenure. Interestingly nationalist councils throughout the North are not calling for the Tricolour alone to be flown. Merely for equality and recognition for their own symbols as well as neutral spaces to be observed.
2. I feel very strongly about the issue of presidential voting rights for Irish Citizens living in Ireland. I personally feel disenfranchised (I’m a D6 btw) at being unable to exercise my right to vote for my President. I fully support any moves in that direction but that would require dail legislation. The pressure needs to come from the 26 county electorate as currently only one party operates across the whole Island. (With respect to the Green’s and a few others who exercise little influence)
I was also an avid and regular follower of Horseman and I must say that I miss his particular analysis of the situation in the north east of my country. His shoes will be hard to fill but you and others are doing well and getting better at it, day by day.
Keep up the good work with the cause and I’m hoping for further detailed analysis of 2011 census.
There is great talk of the Unionist outreach to the Nationalists- how effective is this? Is it a major factor or is the famous golfer one of a few. I have seen a young, now famous, Ulster rugby player (from the same town?) say in Limerick how proud it was for him to play for his COUNTRY. Is this more typical?
Is there a Nationalist outreach version in play? If not why not?
MPG …..
MPG,
There will always be Nationalist Protestants and Unionist Catholics. We can all think of prominent examples of both. As a person who believes in true Republican ideals I fully support the right of every individual to make their own choices as they see fit. To be honest, given the 90 odd years of almost total exclusion of any expression of Irish identity in the North I am amazed that there remains such a strong identification with the Irish Nation on the part of those living in the North. We have only to look at how cultural nationalism was resisted and it’s expression denied for so long by Unionism, eg: Availability of RTE or, ironically, the placing of a Tricolour in a shop window….hmmmm, now what did that lead to?
I have no problem with Nationalists reaching out to Unionists but I am not aware of any concerted campaign in this regard. I do believe, however, that what the “disenfranchised, alienated” Loyalist working class should realise is that they have been badly let down, not by Nationalists but by their own leadership or lack thereof.
The last time they showed signs of waking up to this fact was during the Belfast Strike of 1907 when both Catholic and Unionist workers stood together.
The strike was broken by, wait for it, good old formentation of sectarian divisions on the Unionist side. Sound familiar?
Thanks for the welcome in 2012 onto the site. I haven’t been on commenting for a while (though have managed a scan or two of the blogs and replies) as I’ve been the definition of a full-time worker. My wife opened a shop and I’ve been in every hour it’s been open. Phew!
MPG, I notice you say the NE of your country and then pass comment on an Ulster rugby player saying how proud he was to play for his country? I’m presuming he equates Ulster with NI and therefore his country, or have I read it wrong and he’s talking of “Ireland” as his country?
D6W, I’d be happy for those who have Irish citizen rights to be allowed a vote in your elections. I’m sure however that those who are bearing the huge economic burden down south would be less than happy at ersatz-Irish who aren’t shouldering that particular cross having a say in their democratic wishes. With any power should come responsibility and that should be the touchstone. Interestingly and tenuously related to this, my in-laws don’t have a vote in India, can’t own agricultural land or any other citizenship rights, even though they were both born there and are very regular visitors. They do however pay taxes in the UK, hold UK passports and vote in our elections. They are unionists, with a small u, must be the curse of the Empire on them!
On the flags issue, there’s a lot of mis-directed anger going around, claims of lack of leadership and “if you’re not with us, you’re against us” drivel. Quite frankly, it is a protest without strategy and the tactics are piss-poor too. Completely unprepared and half-assed but undoubtably dangerous on a level not quite understood. I’m not pointing it to the status of civil unrest, just bloodimindedness and occasional thuggery.
Here’s hoping for 2013 as another great year (as most of 2012 indeed was, with the Olympics, the Covenant parade and the decline of Linfield), and with l’derry behaving itself in its shop-window year.
Carrickally,
Best of luck with the new business venture!
He was wearing green, possibly for the first time as a senior and accepting the man of the match award.
I’m a loather of rugger; it comes from belonging to a football family who all attended grammar school (bar one, who went to a secondary school and ironically now goes to Ulster matches!) and were forced into playing the horrible game until third year. Hockey was my get-out clause.