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Ireland in the commonwealth
Read more about: Nationalism, Republicanism, Unionism 
The Irish Government today faced further calls to rejoin the Commonwealth.Following appeals in the North’s Assembly yesterday for Ireland to rejoin the international organisation headed by the Queen after 58 years, the secretary general of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Dr William Shija, said the time had come for Ireland to embrace the diversity offered by the group of 53 nations from across the world.
Interestingly enough Eamon O’Cuiv is interested in us joining as a reaching out thingy for the unionists. All I can say is not a good idea.
Got this link from Freestater. The reform movement is an organisation whos aim is to bring Ireland back into the Commonwealth. One of there aims are a council of the isles. This would allow a common forum for us to discuss issues of mutual interest fisheries, the North, bird flu etc . Considering we are in the EU this means that such an organization already exists just on a grander scale. The interaction between the states already exists without the need to create an additional excuse for Political junkets. Also they say
The altering of the present Constitution to reflect a new Ireland as a member of a multi-cultural E.U.
Now how doesn’t the constitution reflect a multi-cultural E.U. We all have equal right freedom of religion freedom of thought etc. I’m not sure what they mean by that one. Another of there aims is the Separation of Church and State. Correct me if I am wrong but that has already happened in Ireland in the 70s. There is no state church. Unlike the U.K. They also want more representation in the Senate for minority sections of the population. The Taoiseach should nominate five such representatives from his senate seats. This I have to agree with but not just from the British tradition as they claim to be but African, Eastern European etc.
They want the National Anthem to be rewritten to reflect the heterogeneous nature of the Irish of today, rather than the narrow, violent nationalism of another time. The french national anthem says Oh, do you hear there in our fields The roar of those fierce fighting men ? Who came right here into our midst To slaughter sons, wives and kin. Should it be changed because it reflects violence against wives. No it is their anthem. People who sing it don’t want to slaughter wives. Neither do Irish people want to go fight the English. I do know some unionist that do actually feel intimidated by the song. But it is only a song. Don’t read into the lyrics. Most Irish people don’t even know them. The Reform Movement believes that English and Irish should be made equal official languages to reflect the reality of the Irish situation. The Constitution article 8 says.
1. The Irish language as the national language is the first official language. 2. The English language is recognized as a second official language.
It doesn’t mean anything both are official both are equal. English is used more. What possible thing would happen if this was changed. The only manifestation of the 1 2 situation is that sign posts have Irish on top and English below. On duel signage something has to go first. Don’t forget English tends to be in larger letters. They also talk about the compulsory role that Irish has been made to play in our schools which has resulted in the shameful lack of other language instruction, especially in the primary school curriculum. Which I have talked about before. They also want it to be recognized that people in Ireland should have the right to hold a British passport. This should only be on the same terms as people in England. I.E the granny rule. If you qualify that way i.e. can show that you are indeed of British stock then you are entitled to one. But we can’t have people taking random Irish passport for many reasons. Neither can the British have this.
This passport thing is an issue for the British government not the Irish government it would be their decision. Their big policy seems to be Ireland rejoining the Commenwealth. Which was also favored by none other then Dev, Lemass and Eamon O’Cuiv. They mention that the commonwealth accounts for Twenty-three per cent of world trade. Yet the Commonwealth has no economic policies . It is not like the EU. It accounts for 23 per cent of trade as it has 30% of the world’s population. No other reason it is merely a distortion of figures point. There is no real trade benefits to joining. There is also no loss of sovernity involved in joining it. Also the Commonwealth is in decline.
Countries are looking away from one another and looking to regional partners instead eg the EU. Also it has been shown by Zimbabwe who have left the organization that it has no power to influence member states to adhere to Human rights and democratic principles. The only benefit to Ireland would be that our athletes would get to run in the commonwealth games and is that really worth a referendum. And to pay for our ministers to swan off around the world for a few more weeks a year
But most of all what I find wrong with all this is the people who argue that it would be a means to reach out to the unionist to further the aim of a united Ireland. The reason they want to be in the U.K is because they see themselves as British first. It has zero to do with any affinity to the Queen, hell I am sure some of them are probably republicans. Trying to make out to them that the queen is the only barrier to unity is dumb. They want to be British not Irish and until we realize this and that we can’t molly codle them into a united Ireland the soon we learn to live together. Try saying to someone from Newcastle “would you join Ireland if we joined the Commonwealth” because to a Unionist person from Ballymena it is the exact same feeling.
See, I’m almost in favour of joining the Commonwealth. Over 20 years, we could get two sets of Commonwealth games, one for Dublin in Croke Park, and one for Cork in 2024 when the Bertie Bowl opens. It’d bring a bit of cash into the country.
Why do you say a referendum would be needed to rejoin the commonwealth? A referendum wasn’t required to leave in the first place.
I don’t see why the Republic of Ireland shouldn’t rejoin. South Africa did. Only the likes of Ruairí Ó Brádaigh would seriously object and it would be a significant goodwill gesture to Unionists.
I believe the only reason why it hasn’t happened is because of geography, the peace process, the North/South East/West institutions and the EU relations between the Republic of Ireland and the UK are so close already Commonwealth membership wouldn’t make much difference to them.
Unionists couldn’t give a shit if the ROI joined the Commonwealth, adopted the Queen as head of State or died our rivers orange. Anything that we do solely to appease the unionists will not make any difference to them and in fact shows us as scheming and duplicitous, ie. it corrodes what respect they have for us.
I agree unionists would not stop being unionists if the ROI rejoined the Commonwealth, but it would be a significant concilatory gesture which would consolidate the great progress made in relations between Unionists and Dublin.. The ROI would not be any less republican for it.
“it would be a significant concilatory gesture which would consolidate the great progress made in relations between Unionists and Dublin..”
Gesture shmesture. Unionists couldn’t give a toss. The idea that they do is the great vanity that possesses Irish nationalism.
Unless there’s some bona fide reason outside of trying to cosy up to unionists (I can’t think of any) then what is the point of even considering rejoining the Commonwealth.
The question is not would we be any less republican for it, but would we be any better off for it. We wouldn’t be any less republican if we did lots of things, but generally states decide on a course of action because they see some benefit, not because of some specious negative reasoning.
If Unionists don’t give a toss then why did Jeffrey Donaldson call for it?
As for other reasons why the ROI should rejoin, read the link below and tell me if any of it would be opposed by Dublin. The fact that Zimbabwe was forced to leave for failing to live up to this declaration signed in Zimbabwe shows the Commonwealth meant it. It may only have moral force but moral force helped grind down apartheid.
http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=34457
I sure also Irish sportsmen and women wouldnt mind the chance to compete in the Commonwealth games either. Having Sonia O Sullivan relying on her Australian passport to compete should not have to be repeated.
1. You think Jeffrey Donaldson is a secret republican and said this because he think we would join
2. Mugabe is still in power. Does not seem that leaving the commonwealth did him any harm.
3. South Africa left the commonwealth in 61 nelson Mandela came to power in 94 33 years later. Not the fastest organisation.
4. Is the commonwealth games the only positive you can come up with?
We only have established churchs in England and Scotland, the rest of the UK (Wales & NI) is disestablished. I think unionists would say they want to be British-Irish as in British-Welsh etc, but a few daft sods claim they are something called Ulster-Scots. Commonweaith membership would be good for Ireland’s international relations, It is Nelson Mandela and India that want you to re-join the Commonwealth, not the DUP- still some thinking unionist would like the gesture.
I cannot even believe this is being redebated. Imperialisem is in the past, it is time to move with Europe. Why joins an organisation that celebrates the dessolation of ‘inferior peoples’, one of whom was us.
I doubt it would any differance to Unionists, thet have their identity, and nothing will change that.
Also in relation to the ‘Reform’ movement, they recently changed their website. They (the whole 10 people among them ) were actively calling for the re-unification of Republic of Ireland into the UK. Realising how unpopular such a suggestion was, they have now changed the wording of their site, calling for the extension of British citizenship to Southerners. This movement seem quite dqngerous – if they constantly change what they say in order to attract support.
Why not join. The commonwealth was a new beginning following the end of empire which stressed the equality between nations and peoples. It stresses peace and friendship, and in its short history has made significant stands against racism. It does not have the power and the influence of the UN or the EC, G8/G20 but it has a table where the smallest and poorest states of the world sit as equals with some of the largest’s and the richest.
Ireland joining the commonwealth would not be a gesture to the unionists but a statement that the future of the world is not about boundaries, but nations and peoples co-operating with each other, and putting aside the troubles of the past, and being friends. Ireland may not benefit economically, but it might gain some credos by sitting down with the poorest states of the world, some of the largest and smallest states (in terms of population) for no other reason than the peaceful progress of all humanity. Something good has happened in the North of Ireland in recent years and the peace process continues to move on, why not share that learning with Sri-Lanka, India-Pakistan etc.
There are large Irish Communities in the UK, Canada, and Australia show your people in these commonwealth countries that Ireland no longer stands for some unexplained neutrality or hatred of the English, but wants to sit alongside the UK as an equal and constructive partner in building peace and prosperity for all the worlds nations and peoples.
The commonwealth is actually growing new nation states, are joining who had no association with the UK, the commonwealth games are another posivitive part of the organisation but it isn’t the only aspect. Our countries have shared a thousand years of history some of it bloody, but there is no blood on my hands and I have only ever had Irishmen and Women as friends. Irish membership would make the institution less British and more Celtic…and the Stupid English are looking as if they are going to elect a Tory Government in 9 months time, in those circumstances the commonwealth needs Ireland.
The Queen maybe the Head of the commonwealth, but she is head of the commonwealth in person and not as the monarch of the UK; and as an individual she has over fifty years made a significant contribution. The symbolic head of the commonwealth in the future my not be the UK’s monarch. Ireland’s membership would guarantee the evolution of this useful world body, and symbolic future “presidium” of the commonwealth may eventually pass to a small “group” of people who are perhaps symbolic of its diversity as well as its history and stance on peace, as such it might have an influence the G8 cannot reach.
Your sincerely,
An Englishman, with no economic interests in Ireland or the Commonwealth.
Ireland being apart of the European Union is no different than being apart of the United Kingdom as it once was. Ireland I believe had more representation in Westminster than it currently does in Brussels and Strassburg an yet today the European Union is accountable to around 80% of Irish law. During 1800 to 1920 or there about the Government of the United Kingdom made laws in the House of Commons from a mandate of 100 Irish MPs, a large swing in the House of 650 seats. Today Ireland has a grand total of 12 MEPs that swing their vote in a Bordello of 750.
I haft to feel sorry for your average Irishman, even that hardline Irish Republican that hates everything British. I respect Ireland as being a Independent State, I would like them to rejoin the United Kingdom in some capacity but if the Irish don’t want too then that’s fine by me, But please, Keep your Independence instead of giving it away to this European Union.
I haft to feel sorry for your average Irishman, even that hardline Irish Republican that hates everything British. I respect Ireland as being a Independent State, I would like them to rejoin the United Kingdom in some capacity but if the Irish don’t want too then that’s fine by me, But please, Keep your Independence instead of giving it away to this European Union.
Man, this post is such comment-bait for fucking English Tories.
What nonsense. Grow up, once you leave the house go your own way and stop running back to mum.
Are you condoning the British systems acrued years of anti irishness, anti catholocism, anti nationalism, anti republicanism, genocide, ethnic cleansing “hell or connaught” cultural decimation, theft.
Where have you heard sorry.
What about the whole english imperialistic ethic underpining commonwealth ie slavery, opium trade, enforce proslerisation, industrial imperialism and its entire backstory of cultural arrogance.
The average Glasgow Celtic supporter has more sense of Ireland than the whole lot of you.
I love the Anglophobic ranting. This is why most modern English, who had nothing to do with empire nor any of it’s benefit (but have to live with the demand that we feel bad about it) people wouldn’t want the Irish back in the Commonwealth. Hell, most of us would love the Scots and Welsh gone, why would we want the Irish back?