Roy Garland shared a platform at Newry Arts Centre recently with Nelson McCausland and Gordon Lucy in which all were speaking on the subject of Indentity. In his Irish News column (subs needed) this week he mulls of over the contrary pulls of roots and modernity.
“To deny we are Irish, when we live on this island, or Northern Irish/Ulster people when we live in this part of the island, or British, when we live in these islands is surely to deny aspects of reality. But rejection is usually based on what these identities are perceived to mean. To be Irish is too often taken to imply being nationalist and Catholic, being Northern Irish may be taken to imply being Protestant or unionist, while to be British can still be associated with past imperialism. But all parts of our islands are changing rapidly with old assumptions becoming increasingly irrelevant.
“The future lies in inclusion and diversity but paradoxically the forces making for change also lead us to seek roots. This is part of the genesis of interest in Irish and UlsterScots language and culture but such reversions necessarily involve choices given the complexity and that culture itself is socially constructed. We are pulled towards the modernity with its apparent freedom but the sense of homelessness pulls us towards the past and the sense of community and belonging. We need both and we also need to understand where our neighbours are coming from and this implies a continuing need for dialogue”.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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