Take a Mo and reach agreement
WHEN I heard that the talks to restore the North’s Executive had collapsed, I’m ashamed to say I groaned. It may have something to do with having a recent near-death experience but I have developed an intolerance to what I consider belligerence or stupidity.
It may sound rough to say it, but I don’t actually care who is at fault, I just want them to get on with it and do their duty to the people.
The Good Friday Agreement is being much bandied about as if it is a tablet of stone. I remember the day it was signed because the North’s then Secretary of State came to stay with us that night.
Now this allows me to veer a little off subject. Mo Mowlam, was an amazingly convivial person and I first met her when I chaired a debate between her and her Tory predecessor Sir Patrick Mayhew. Mo and I hit it off and we saw much of each other in the following years.
Many of these encounters ran late into the night and involved two things which I am passionate about, Irish politics and whiskey. Mo was pretty much into both of those as well.
I suppose the point of recalling all of this is to remind ourselves how complicated is the history of our island.
I come from an Angloirish background which at times meant that in certain quarters I was regarded as a West Brit – a term that I regard as a form of abuse. How come, I would ask myself as a teenager, could a person born in Dublin, and whose family has had roots in Slane going back to 1703, not be an Irishman?
Looking back at that now as a 66-year-old I realise how much our country has changed. However, we must not forget how hard we all fought for that change.
WThe late Mo Mowlam