Bonfire hate crime in North must stop

After seeing the practice of burning nationalist/republican election posters, tricolour flags and Blessed Virgin Mary statues on bonfires continue during this year's Eleventh Night celebrations in Northern Ireland, I explain why this should be clamped down by local politicians and what can be done about it. 

Happily, this year's Eleventh Night and Twelfth July celebrations passed off without serious disturbance. Apart from several houses in the Shankill road area of west Belfast being damaged by a nearby bonfire and a minor stand-off at Ardoyne in the evening between loyalist and republican youths, there was no serious civil disorder as in previous years.

However, an offensive and ugly aspect of the annual Eleventh Night and Twelfth July celebrations persisted this year as election posters of nationalist/republican politicians, tricolour flags, images of the 1981 hunger strikers and Blessed Virgin Mary statues were burned on bonfires throughout Northern Ireland. It is worth noting that it was not just SDLP and Sinn Féin politicians who had their posters incinerated, but also Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol (CISTA) political representatives. These latter people suffered this fate exclusively because of their Catholic-sounding surnames.   

An image posted by Junior Minister, Megan Fearon MLA, showing her election poster and others belonging to SDLP politicians (Dolores Kelly, Karen McKevitt and Justin McNulty MLA) and to CISTA candidates (Emmet Crossan and Martin Kelly) displayed on a bonfire prior to being lit.

Danny Kinahan, south Antrim's Ulster Unionist MP, was pictured helping to present a cheque to a charity in front of an unlit bonfire topped with the tricolour flag and, in response to the outcry that followed, labelled the practice as a part of 'Protestant culture.' Kinahan's defence of this practice is unsettling because it conceals sectarianism and hate under the labels of 'culture' and 'tradition' and worrying because it shows that it is accepted by an individual who is widely considered to personify moderate unionism in Northern Ireland. 

Let us be honest about what this activity is. It is NOT culture. It is wanton sectarianism and a form of hate crime. Pure and simple. The same principle applies to the burning of unionist/loyalist flags on bonfires lit by republican communities to commemorate internment every August. It is indefensible and must be stopped. 

I have no problem with bonfires as a form of commemoration. They are an example of tradition. For example, the English and French use them to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night and Bastille Day, respectively. However, the practice of the unionist/loyalist community burning symbols cherished by the nationalist/republican community in Northern Ireland and vice versa is not tradition. It is sectarian, offensive and constitutes hate crime.   

I know that me publishing a blog post on this will not stop unionists/loyalists or nationalists/republicans committing this act in July 2017 and August 2016, respectively. However, it demonstrates that young Irish people are prepared to speak out about this practice and to contribute to the wider debate. 

For me, our political representatives together - local councillors, MLAs, MPs and MEPs - in both the unionist/loyalist and nationalist/republican communities must take a united stand, send out messages calling for this practice to immediately cease and state that a zero tolerance stance will be adopted by all political parties. Further, our MLAs should formulate legislation immediately in order to make this act illegal and make the PSNI able to enforce the legislation effectively and efficiently. This issue should also be a priority of the new NI Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, MP. 

Finally, I am convinced that if steps like these are undertaken then this activity will eventually be eliminated although it will require the leadership and support of local politicians, community leaders and organisations like the Orange Order. I am not naive. I know how difficult this will be to achieve but those with the popular support of both communities must continue to work together in order to negate the elements in our society that seek to provoke sectarian conflict and cause disharmony. 

Why I support the 'boys in green' and not the 'green and white army'

At this time of the 2016 European football championships in France, I explain why I support the Ireland soccer team and not the Northern Ireland equivalent.  

At first glance, it might seem strange why I, as a Northern Ireland resident, support the Republic of Ireland soccer team over the Northern Ireland side. Surely, I should follow the national team of where I originate from. However, if you know the history of Ireland well enough, you will realise that things are not quite that simple.

Supporting the Irish national team at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin in September 2014

From a home video, I know that I have cheered on the Irish soccer team at least since the 1994 World Cup when I was two years old. In the video my brother, Matthew, and I are running around the back garden playing soccer with dad and mum. We're all shouting 'Olé Olé Olé' - a familiar Irish soccer team chant which was especially popular during the 1990 and 1994 World Cup tournaments. Ever since then I have been mad about the 'boys in green.' I remember jumping like mad when Robbie Keane fired in the equalisers against both Germany and Spain during the 2002 World Cup and my excitement at getting my first replica jersey in 2004. I recall the decade-long tournament drought between 2002 and 2012 and the longing for Ireland to gain qualification again for a major competition. I remember that desire being satisfied fleetingly by Seán St. Ledger's header against Croatia at Euro 2012 and the joy at reaching the last 16 stage of this summer's finals in France.  

It makes sense for me to support the Ireland team. Being an Irish soccer fan compares favourably with my Irish national identity. For example, it represents the whole Irish nation as does its associated flag (the Irish tricolour) and national anthem (Amhrán na bhFiann). 

In contrast, the Northern Ireland team is linked to symbols which are at odds with my national identity. For example, it solely represents the six counties of the Northern Ireland state, its anthem is 'God Save the Queen', its flag is the so-called 'Ulster Banner' (the flag of the former unionist Northern Ireland Government) and the team plays its home games at Windsor Park - named for the electoral district in south Belfast that derives its name from the British Royal Family. Further, the Union flag -another flag that rankles with my Irish national identity - is also flown at Northern Ireland's home and away matches.  

Nevertheless, despite these realities I like to see all Irish sports teams that wear green succeed, whether it be the Ireland international rules football team or the Northern Ireland soccer team. Unfortunately, I am not ready to openly support the 'green and white army' whether at home in Newry or at Windsor Park. 

For me, the governing body of the Northern Ireland team, the Irish Football Association (IFA), faces a challenge in encouraging more Northern Ireland residents with an Irish national identity to support the soccer team. I am convinced that the IFA can undertake this by agreeing on a more cross-community friendly flag and anthem and, perhaps, altering the name of Windsor Park. Personally, I prefer the stadium, like the Belfast City airport, being renamed for George Best - the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer who regularly united the two communities due to his brilliance and skill. .                     

Lastly, I am convinced that the lasting solution will be for the island of Ireland to be represented by a single governing body and soccer team similar to cricket, field hockey and, especially, rugby union. I hope to see this outcome reached in my lifetime.
  

The original pre-partition IFA logo