There are just too many circles for Mary Lou to square

MARY Lou McDonald delivered a keynote speech to civic unionists at Queen’s University last night heavy on reconciliatory phrases and poetry references.

It was also brimming with ideological and everyday contradictions on so many fronts.

The Sinn Fein president is a first-class communicator and accomplished orator. But there were just too many circles for her to square.

Ms McDonald’s lack of IRA baggage makes her more palatable to unionists than many of her colleagues. Her use of the L-word — Londonderry — and her assertion that she is open to discussions about Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth, have stretched Sinn Fein voters. But far from being carefully crafted, her speech came across as a great big political blancmange that brought nothing new to the table. And parts seem distinctly odd in the light of current political realities.

The Sinn Fein president said unionists would be at the centre of political life in a united Ireland “not left in the margins of Westminster”. That’s a strange argument given the power that parliamentary arithmetic has bestowed on the DUP.

Ms McDonald acknowledged unionist suffering by referring to the killing of law lecturer Edgar Graham. But that falls short of the words of condemnation his family asked for last week when they condemned the murder of Pat Finucane.

As Sinn Fein president, she couldn’t of course do that — even if she were so minded — and hope to stay in the job.

Ms McDonald then told the story of a young highland dancer in Derry last year asking her if she would still be able to dance in a united Ireland. She assured her that she would.

But the elephant in the Sinn Fein room is that unionists — the clue is in the name — don’t want to be part of a united Ireland regardless of what dances they can do.

Earlier yesterday, the Sinn Fein president caused controversy by saying an outsider should replace George Hamilton as Chief Constable as no suitable PSNI candidate exists. Her remarks led to fury among unionists but reflect nationalist feeling.

That row is a reality check on the aspirations aired at the Queen’s gig.