macalla-eire-blog

[macalla-eire-blog]

By @peladon

[macalla-eire-blog]

Growing up in Belfast at the tail end of the Troubles, the so called “Irish question” always seemed a hypothetical one. The Good Friday Agreement was seen as answering the question of whether the island of Ireland could be reunited once and for all, establishing as it did that Northern Ireland would only rejoin the South if a majority of citizens voted in a referendum or plebiscite for the option. With nationalists being demographically subordinate in Stormont, the simple mathematics meant it would never happen.  Reunification was a position which I always considered somewhat fanciful; a naive sentiment which was expressed in republican pockets in Belfast and Derry, meriting few serious contingency plans. But Ireland now looks set to join the roster of political shocks and upsets we have seen rippling across the world. Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d utter: for the first time in my lifetime, a united Ireland is now credible – and perhaps inevitable.

I have to give it to the Tories. Who’d have thought they’d be responsible for the break up of the United Kingdom. The irony is too delicious.

[macalla-eire-blog]

Ireland passes legislation to completely divest public funds from fossil fuels. 

[macalla-eire-blog]

Macalla: Who are we?

We started talking about Macalla, when two Irish activists talked about the changes that had happened in Irish politics and how while there was a lot wrong in the world, positive change had never felt so close. 

We talked about living in a ‘Republic’ about civic nationalism that could give a sense of responsibility and ownership without exclusion. 

We talked about whether ‘left’ and ‘right’ were helpful terms any more.

We talked about the protests and campaigns that had energised a new generation of activists in Ireland and how no party had captured that spirit fully yet.

We wanted there to a be a platform to discuss these issues and connect Irish people to the context for news and activism not just the headlines. 

[macalla-eire-blog]

What does it mean to be political in Ireland today?