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An island in the sun
Whilst a gloomy end to 2004 may have been inevitable, MALCOLM ROGERS argues we Irish have actually never had it so good. So look forward to 2005 with confidence.
A recent letter to the London Independent newspaper read: “Sir, I have just returned from a superb trip around Ireland, and would like to say what a wonderful place it is. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend an evening in a pub, having a meal and a few drinks, without coming home reeking of cigarettes…
“Ireland has successfully adopted the euro, and not once did I hear anyone say ‘What’s that in the old money?’ as they no doubt would here for many years … there was virtually no police presence on the roads either. But did that mean everyone was taking the opportunity of using amazing empty roads as a race track? No, it did not — motorists are far more law-abiding and considerate than in Britain.
“I hardly saw any graffiti, and no intimidating groups of youths hanging around on street corners and bus shelters…
“Ireland is now a modern, forward-looking country with the impression of knowing how to do things properly. By comparison, it is Britain that looks stuck in the past.”
The letter was signed by a Mr. Phil J. Burden, of Steyning, West Sussex — evidently a very satisfied customer.
Of course, it could be argued that there is a degree of rose-tinted spectacles about Mr. Burden’s letter. It would be easy to point out that driving standards are not as good in Ireland as they are in Britain (although nothing like as bad as in Spain or Italy where I recently travelled).
It would also be fair to mention substantial vandalism does exist, although, again, not as bad as in many parts of Europe. Overall, however, I agree with Mr. Burden. Life in Ireland is good — in fact, I would goes as far as saying that it is the best time to live on the island since our first ancestors arrived some 9,000 years ago.
Ireland has faced many tribulations over those millennia. Only 100 years ago, the MP and journalist T.P. O’Connor informed the British House of Commons that an armed force, financed by the tax-payer, had been landed on Dursey Island off the Irish coast. The force was there to assist the bailiffs in evicting a tenant with four cows and land valued at £12. The evictions in Ireland continued throughout the year. It’s a situation which beggars belief today.
Take another example, this time just three decades ago — Bloody Sunday. No government could possibly allow such an attack on the civilian population again. In mature democratic states — such as Britain and Ireland — we have seen how effective campaigning by the victims of violence, and by oppressed minorities, can cause such embarrassment to the government that it desists. For Britain, international opprobrium over the North was too much to bear, and the government was forced to mend its ways. No more Bloody Sundays.
But that’s how democracies work. We, the people, have ultimate control of our governments — we can turn them out of office. Consequently life has improved in all western liberal democracies, while in most totalitarian states, matters are decidedly worse.
If you’re a woman, a member of an ethnic or religious minority, if you’re a trade unionist, if you’re gay, if you’re a child, if you’re physically or mentally handicapped — whatever minority you belong to, your quality of life and human rights will have improved compared to even a few decades ago.
No longer is it acceptable to put up signs saying: “No Irish or Blacks.” Today, to live in a Western liberal democracy is to have won the lottery of life — to live in Ireland, in my opinion, is to have won the jackpot.
To be a member of the Irish in Britain community in the 21st century is also an improvement on even a generation ago. The Irish in Britain have contributed to every facet of British life — from politics to entertainment, and from industry to academics, never mind our traditional pursuits of literature, poetry and music.
It’s sadly true that some of our community have been left behind — particularly those who came over in the mid-20th century — but even here we have managed to get some assurances from the Irish government that these valued members of our people must be recognised and helped.
The political situation for those who belong to the Irish Diaspora in Britain has also improved — just like Bloody Sunday, the circumstances of the Guildford Four or Birmingham Six would be virtually impossible today.
Of course, Ireland has its share of problems today. The Church, once the cornerstone of Irish society, has suffered grievously over the last generation or so. But even that may not be without its silver lining. A deep sense now prevails that the Catholic Church is beginning to distance itself from pomp, power and abuse, back to where it should be — a position of moral authority. For so many people, in so many parts of the world, the Church has been a force for good. It seems to be heading in that direction once again.
Many other problems face Ireland, and not just the inequalities in society. Probably the least recognised but potentially most destructive is global warming. There are signs that the deep sea current which drives the Gulf Stream to our shores could be failing. The Gulf Stream keeps us warm in the winter — if it changes direction, temperatures in Ireland could drop by between 5–10 °C. Ireland has suffered so many tribulations over the centuries, it would be tragic if it was finally the weather which either sunk us or froze us.
2004 has been a bloody year. The carnage in Iraq continues and the Middle East is in turmoil. But for once in the roll call of violence, Northern Ireland is mercifully absent. Whatever the problems besetting the peace process, the guns are silent.
Paradoxically, the world’s most violent century was kinder to Ireland than any other since Neolithic farmers first wandered through our lands. The Grim Reaper has stopped sharpening his scythe quite so enthusiastically as he peers westwards.
Despite corruption in the very highest reaches of society, Ireland today is a respected member of Europe and widely perceived as an honest broker. Two of our most high profile citizens — Bob Geldof and Bono — continue to highlight the dreadful iniquity of Third World debt. Most countries in Africa spend more servicing their loans than they do on medical care. That is a statistic we should all hang our heads in shame over.
In the Republic, democracy and justice have flourished in the 20th century, and in the 21st century the economy has boomed. Inequality is still present in Ireland, but to quote President Kennedy, a rising tide seems to have lifted all boats. Few people are destitute. It’s all a far cry from the beginning of the last Millennium.
In Ireland at the end of 1004 AD, life was pretty much as it had been in the year 104 AD — a rural population lived off the land, totally at the mercy of the seasons. Mind you, there was little about the forthcoming year 1005 AD which would have unduly worried the population. Everyone was too busy keeping starvation at bay to bother too much about the Book of Revelation, the fear of Armageddon, or the imminent destruction of the planet.
During the first Millennium AD, Gaelic Ireland had been subjected to regular attacks from Norsemen, but these ‘blow-ins’ quickly took to the Irish way of life, leaving the indigenous society largely undisturbed. It was to be another century or so before Ireland would fall under the baleful influence of less benign visitors.
For modern Ireland, we can be reasonably confident no such shock lies in store in 2005. With a bit of good fortune, and some effort, the 21st century could be Ireland’s very best era since the time of St. Patrick. And then maybe we can begin helping those countries who are in the same position we were a century ago.
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