Michael D Higgins insists he is President of Ireland, refuses to commemorate partition

This is interesting and scuppers the slant being given by some on here that it’s all the dup doing.

this is straight of my local alliance party councillors Facebook page. He is also a major promoter of Irish language signage etc. Maybe you will hear it from him Everything below is from his post

“”Nail. On. Head.

A disquieting glimpse of what lies ahead https://www.e-pages.dk/sundayindependent/288/article/1448138/28/2/render/?token=ce4eb640cb98a3ad34612b3a8595e18e&vl_platform=ios&vl_app_id=ie.belfasttelegraphnewsstand.ereader&vl_app_version=3.0.5

“”

According to the Heads of the Church today on RTE1 lunchtime, the event had unfortunately been included in some sort of list of centenary celebration events. They said that the Irish Gov. were not happy about that, so they took it out and they thought that everything was ok then. They seemed to have ignored that Michael D. told them that he had a problem with the title of the event and at that stage told them if unchanged, he would have to just wish them well.

Politicisation happened at that stage and thats why Higgins backed out (as he did from similar event in 2016 because DUP were not attending).

Can you answer me, why are the DUP complaining about him not attending? When Arlene Foster refused to attend any 1916 commemorations, Martin McGuinness said that it was understandable as to why she should not want to attend.

Sweet jesus.

Well also cause it's not a real language and most Ulster Scots people know that and any non nationalists I've met from NI think it's a joke

It's just English spelt with an accent and was designed cause if one side had something the other had to

As Ali G said to Sammy Wilson

AG: So is you Irish?

SW: No, I'm British

AG: So is you 'ere on 'oliday?

It's mad, you have Scots living in Ireland pretending to be English.

Where else would ya get it?!

The smug overconfidence with which you approach many of these conversations really belies the level of knowledge you think you have.

You're a walking paragon of the statement that a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

The truly Ironic thing is that many Ulster-Scots were originally Catholic and only became Protestant because that was a requirement of been part of the plantation.

In my case I am Irish by dint of my Scottish Catholic ancestors 🤣

Well given that following the GFA people can identify as British or Irish in NI, it is not that simple.

Plus not all in NI view it as an apartheid that is you transferring your emotions on the issue. Look at Rory Mcllroy’s generation. Here is a guy who has said ‘ I’ve always felt more British than Irish.’ But yet was proud to represent Ireland in the recent Olympics. Like his youth GUI days. You can’t pigeonhole people to a nationality, because it suits your own personal political narrative. It is up to the people themselves to chose that was the fundamental point of the GFA.

As for those who use deliberately antagonistic Phrases such as ‘President of the ROI’ (they could have got away with Eire) or people who use the phrase ‘The 6 counties’ it is deliberately insulting.

Both sides who do such things are as bad as each other IMO. And Michael D should have risen above it and all bar ‘the usual’ would have given him great credit for doing so IMO.

Michael's father was a hardline anti-Treaty. He fought in the civil war and was quite bitter about shape the Free State took. When you saw previous governments endeavor to keep communication open in the wake of bombings and other disgusting practices, this seems really petty by MH. Just as a matter of interest, what would have been an appropriate title for the event?

https://twitter.com/peterlynas/status/1439124011213070337?s=20

At the beginning and end of the day, this is church service. A f**king church service that yous are all getting your knickers in a twist over, including Michael D.

One that has been put together by the the main faith denominations on the island. Many people here and including our President should be ashamed of themselves for politicising such a benign and non threatening meeting of minds. It's pathetic.