The word ‘historic’ is often inappropriately used to describe every minute step along the creeping road of progress of politics in the North, but the love-in witnessed at Stormont today must surely warrant such grand terms.
Never has the disparate strands of political thought in the North, South and Britain been so united on anything, let alone how much they love power-sharing.
It would almost make you wonder what the hold-up was, as almost 10-years have passed since the vast majority of people both North and South willed the two sides to ‘get it on’ through the Good Friday Agreement.
The atmosphere at Stormont this morning was one of a celebrity wedding with journalists, uncharacteristically well turned out in suits, peering out from a white marquee remarking, “I hope they get the weather for it.”
Like newly weds, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness were almost inseparable from their arrival at Stormont, the happy couple even gleefully posing for the wall of photographers who came from every corner of the globe to join in the celebrations.
With the newly appointed Assembly Speaker, William Hay, conducting proceedings both Ian and Martin tied the knot of power sharing, saying ‘I do’, by taking their respective pledges of office.
The only dissenting voice to be heard of why republicanism and unionism shouldn’t be joined together, was that of a lone protester guldering, “No terrorists in government”. Other so-called dissident republicans didn’t even show up to express their dismay at events.
Minutes later Ian and Martin were politely hosting the two prime ministers for a morning reception. Under the unnatural gaze of the world’s media the nervous couple gabbled and floundered as if in front of disapproving parents. They should have relaxed as Bertie and Tony were two of the main matchmakers who ensured that they got together in the first place.
By 5pm the majority of the well fed guest dignatories and press were happily making their own way home, leaving the parties to their own devices.
Over the coming days and weeks the main parties will have to forge a working relationship which yields results for the people of the North, on issues such as affordable housing and water rates, which may not set the pulse racing but which affect every day life.
All the indications point towards a genuine willingness amongst the leadership of the DUP and Sinn Féin, and indeed the UUP and SDLP, to make headway on these issues, possibly even more successfully than they do at Council level, which is still prone to becoming bogged down in the age-old bickerings.
How long the honeymoon period last is anybody's guess, but at least for now no one is talking about a separation.
4 comments:
another provo front posing as journalism! read his first contribution and it could have come from the pyongyang times! no thanks! by the way mairtin, if its true that you and your chuckie friends have bought the irish echo be warned that new york is a city with no patience for journalism of the standard that you are used to!
I know the purpose of this isn't to comment on other comments but that is the most bizarre diatribe I've read in a long time.
There's as much sign of a Provo tendency in Damian's report as there is of a capital letter in yours.
It's fantastic to see the parties working together - nothing short of a miracle. Here's hoping the majority of people will be more positive than that comment poster.
I have to disagree with your view on it being an 'historic' day, how many historic days can we actually have in Northern Ireland?
I agree with Newton Emerson on this one, historic days are over, we'll done to both Ian and Martin for getting it on but if it is a marriage looking at divorce statistics in Northern Ireland, it will be one that isn't likely to last long - thank God! (oh Paisley is God - so he keeps telling his folks via the scriptures)
I don't agree with you about the premise that it was an 'historic' day. How many historic days can Northern Ireland have, so a day is historic because ethnic wind-up merchants have seemingly gotten over themselves - great.
Newton Emerson is right, just get on with what you should have done along time ago and if it is a marriage, then looking at divorce statistics in Northern Ireland, it shouldn't last long - fortunately enough.
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