A chara, – Martyn Turner published a cartoon in The Irish Times on February 21st, 1995, entitled "Reconciliation in Northern Ireland . . . How it Will Work"'. Needless to say, in the cartoon it did not work. I have a faded copy on my noticeboard, but if readers don't have access to the original cartoon they can always turn instead to the news about the reconciliation event at the Skainos Centre in east Belfast last Thursday night.
Patrick Magee played a part in the 1984 bombing that killed Jo Berry’s father. Jo Berry has forgiven Magee. The two of them spoke together at the reconciliation event.
Outside were loyalists – some of whom were not born in 1984 – who were prepared to use violence to stop the event. Four PSNI officers were hurt during the disorder. Many prominent people have tried to paint a rosy picture of life in Northern Ireland. However, sectarianism is endemic, many migrants are facing nightly racist attacks, there is no agreement on parades, flags or the past, and the entire notion of reconciliation has been rejected by unionism and loyalism. Still, Martyn Turner can save on a bit of ink. There is no need for him to revisit the topic; his assessment in the cartoon is as accurate today as it was in 1995. – Is mise,
TOMÁS
MAOILSEACHLAINN,
Leitir Mhic an Bhaird,
Co Dhún na nGall.