Sir, – Una Mullally’s rather confused piece on the “Ooh ah up the ‘Ra” controversy was nonetheless useful, as it questioned what is meant by Irish republicanism (“What does it mean to say ‘up the ‘Ra’? And why does it keep happening?”, Opinion & Analysis, October 13th).
Republicanism has been the official political credo of the Irish State since its foundation 100 years ago. Over that period, it served the people of Ireland well, by creating a parliamentary democracy, to which the Army, police and civil service were subject to democratic control and the judiciary given its complete independence. This was achieved at a time when large parts of Europe were convulsed by the competing ideologies of fascism, communism and military dictatorship.
Irish republicanism also embraced a civic nationalism that was inclusive of all sections of the population. It was not chauvinistic nor aggressive, and as the State grew, it sought a peaceful end to division and partition among the Irish people.
This approach characterised successive governments, no matter what their political make-up. The State’s major political parties – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour – all shared this democratic commitment to a peaceful resolution.
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However, the so-called republicanism of modern Sinn Féin does not reflect those values. Given its origins with the Provisional IRA in the North, it arose from a sectarianised form of ethnonationalism, that ironically sought to end division and partition through offensive violence on a sustained scale from 1970 to 1997.
Needless to say, this did not succeed, not least because in fact it dramatically deepened sectarian division between unionists and nationalists and collaterally created a deep reservoir of bitterness and hurt, which will take generations to heal.
In short, it was counter-productive, as well as politically and morally wrong. This was not the inclusive civil nationalism of the Irish State, nor for that matter the SDLP in the North, who are still committed to an inclusive civic nationalism, that sees cross-community partnership as advocated by John Hume, as the means of achieving a reconciled people.
Sinn Féin in the South is a clone of its Northern ethnonationalist cousins and will continue to be shaped by its political DNA. What they now seek through political means is a sectarian victory, rather than a shared island, that will bring about genuine and sustained reconciliation. This exclusive form of ethnonationalism is essentially anti-republican and perilous for the future of Irish democracy. – Yours, etc,
ALBAN MAGINNESS,
Belfast.