Vibrant Coiste na nIarchimí summer school encourages debate

Coiste na nIarchimí, the umbrella organisation for republican ex-prisoner groups, held a very successful summer school in Tí Chulainn, Mullaghbawn, 25-28 June last. The Scoil Samhraidh, entitled, A Nation Once Again? People, Territory & Institutions, attracted a diverse audience including several unionists, two of whom are members of the Ulster Unionist Party's Unionist Council. Steven King, of the Ulster Unionists was also due to address the gathering but had to offer his apologies at the last minute due to the ongoing difficulties within his party at the time.

As delegates arrived at the three-day event in brilliant sunshine, local musicians treated them to a traditional music session. Those who were strangers to Tí Chulainn marvelled at the display of artwork, sculpture and crafts on display in the centre. Conor Murphy, Sinn Féin Assembly member for Newry and south Armagh, welcomed delegates to the event. "It gives me a particular pleasure to see the summer school being held in the area. As an ex-prisoner myself and someone who was involved in creating the ex-prisoners' group Cumann na Meirleach, based in Crossmaglen, I am delighted to see the growth of the network since then. Cumann na Meirleach has become one of the most vibrant and energetic community groups in south Armagh. This summer school is an extension of that type of work and displays the commitment of the republican ex-prisoner community to investigate and explore community divisions and to build respect for diversity, lasting peace and justice."

Mike Ritchie, Director of Coiste, then explained the background to the idea for the summer school, saying that it was part of the Coiste's Processes of Nation Building Programme, publicly launched by Alex Maskey some months ago when he was Mayor of Belfast. Mike said that the summer school offered "an opportunity to bring together people from a diverse range of political, cultural and social backgrounds and in a relaxed environment to discuss our range of visions for creating a new society based on equality and justice. Republicans don't claim to have all the answers but they certainly have ideas and opinions based on the 1916 Proclamation which seeks to cherish 'all of the children of the nation equally'."


Opening address


Anthony Coughlan, senior lecturer in social policy at Trinity College Dublin, then gave the opening address of the summer school. Anthony and the (Belfast) Wolfe Tone Society played a significant part in the thinking behind the creation of the Civil Rights Campaign in the 1960s, though more recently he is best known for his writings on European integration and his involvement as a leading campaigner on the No side in Ireland's two referendums on the Nice Treaty. Anthony's presentation, entitled Nation and national independence in a Globalizing World, was both stimulating and informative and set the broader context for discussions in subsequent days. His question to the audience about what we do once we have achieved a united Ireland (which he firmly believes will happen) only to find that 80% of all decisions affecting the country are made in Brussels and over which we have no control, prompted much debate.


Culture of inequality


By contrast, Inez McCormick's address the following morning, Creating an Inclusive Society: Challenges for Everyone, was very much rooted in the present and very moving. Known widely as a champion of underpaid workers, especially women, Inez said that "the absence of rights is a humiliation". She went on to speak about how the gap between rich and poor in the south of Ireland has now created a culture of inequality and described poverty as "an abuse of human rights". Inez said that although it is always easy to "find reasons as to why we shouldn't speak out", we must "learn by doing", we must "make the global local" and we must adopt a "rights-based approach" and "define a new form of democratic practice". Those thoughts formed the backdrop to the workshops that then took place on women, youth and equality. The workshop on ethnicity had to be cancelled at the last moment when it was discovered that representatives of the Louth African Women's Support Group, comprising nine different African nationalities, were unable to cross the border to attend the event as they had not received permission.


Engaging unionism


The afternoon session on Thursday, A Nation Once Again; Dream or Reality, was one that many delegates were eagerly anticipating and they were not disappointed. The discussion was extended well beyond the time it was due to end and yet, ironically, it is a debate that is only now just beginning.

The Unionist representatives, David Thompson and Steven McColl, who stood in for Steven King at the last minute, said they were delighted to be at the event and to have the opportunity to address republicans. They also wanted answers to questions, which of course those in the audience were unable to give as they revolved around "Is the war over?" Yet they also conceded that maybe they have to accept that they will never get the form of words they desire.

A member of the audience pointed out that republicans have to accept that it is unlikely they will ever get from unionists the form of words of apology they seek for the decades of abuse of power. The unionist representatives also took heart in the words of Damien Kiberd, another panellist, who apologised in advance for his 'gloomy predictions' regarding the Good Friday Agreement, which he didn't see in any way as a vehicle for eventual reunification of the country.

It was left to Martina Anderson, republican ex-prisoner and Sinn Féin all-Ireland co-ordinator to put forward a very detailed and upbeat presentation of the republican view of the GFA and what it means in practice. Once again, the themes raised by Anthony Coughlan the previous day - the nation state, national independence and what they mean in a globalising world - were the focus of discussion with east-west relations rather than the north-south relations given greater prominence by the unionist speakers.


Engaging the media


Friday morning's discussion, The Media in Ireland: News and Views but Whose? saw an amazing presentation from all the main broadcast companies in Ireland: Cathal Goan, recently appointed Director General of RTE Television; Adrian Moynes, Managing director RTE Radio; Padhraic Ó Ciardha, Leascheannasaí, TG4; Rob Morrison, Head of News and Current Affairs, UTV; and Martin O'Brien, Producer with BBC NI. That all of the main broadcast companies felt it important to send along such high-powered representatives is to be commended and must surely be a reflection of how important they regard the republican constituency to be.

Brian Feeney, lecturer and columnist, kicked off the session with a very lively and witty presentation that challenged all the main broadcasters, though he had a particular focus on the BBC. Martin O'Brien found it incredible that Brian regarded some of the presenters with the BBC as operating with a somewhat less than impartial mindset - much to the amusement of the audience, who shared Brian's opinion.

The issue of the wearing of the poppy by presenters was put to both the UTV and BBC representatives, which elicited interesting responses. The BBC has a policy of wearing them but if an individual wishes not to, they can opt out of it. UTV, on the other hand, does not require presenters to wear them by policy, but makes them available. In both instances, it places the onus on the individual if s/he desires not to wear a poppy as they know they are going against either policy or the 'norm'.

But RTE did not come out favourably in the discussion regarding Gay Byrne's infamous refusal to shake hands with Gerry Adams. Gay has already stated that he was directed by RTE and that it was not his personal decision. Cathal Goan reiterated that view and said that a decision had been taken by the authority, a decision he was opposed to. He did not disagree with a member of the audience who pointed out that surely this reflected a living-on of Section 31 and a mindset of 'self-censorship', not to speak of injustice, inequality and downright bad manners. Numerous other issues were raised and once again discussion could have gone on for much longer than the two and a half hours allocated.


Sport in spotlight


The panel discussion on Friday afternoon, The Nation at play: Sport and a Divided Society, was a more relaxed, intimate affair. Only two speakers were present; Jarlath Burns representing the GAA and Michael Boyd of the IFA, despite promises by the IRFU to send along a representative.

Michael gave a very detailed description of what they are trying to do in the IFA to break down sectarianism through their 'Sport for All' programme. He made no attempt to gloss over the difficulties they face in trying to counter a culture of sectarianism within the IFA but also highlighted the successes they have had to date, due primarily to the supporters club taking responsibility for the behaviour of fans. He said he had only just recently been to a GAA match in Clones and was intrigued to see the 'family' attendance at the game.

Jarlath Burns pulled no punches when he spoke of how he viewed the GAA of the 21st century. He said there were difficult decisions that the GAA had had to make, especially the ending of Rule 21, which removed the ban on members of the RUC and British crown forces being allowed to play in the GAA; a decision he agreed with. He said they still faced Rule 42, regarding the playing of other sports on GAA pitches, but asked if anyone would have seriously proposed that the recent Special Olympics should have been banned from Croke Park? He added that the GAA had come through many difficult times, most especially during the hunger strike of 1981, but that the organisation had remained united, which for him was the most important thing.

As many in the audience were avid GAA supporters, if not also players or trainers, Jarlath got the bulk of questions, but Michael Boyd did not object as he said it had been an amazingly informative engagement for him.

Equally amazing was the fact that Mitchel McLaughlin was present, punctually, on stage at 4.15pm - as indicated in the programme - to officially close the summer school. Surely a first for republicans!

Mitchel praised the Coiste for what it has already achieved through the work of the PNB programme. He described it as crucially important work and said that in this year of the bi-centenary of Robert Emmett and his Proclamation to the Irish people and at a time when Ireland assumes Presidency of the EU in January 2004, it is all the more important that republicans debate the type of issues that featured in the programme of the summer school - the nation, national independence, EU integration and a globalising world.

All in all the event was a great success for Coiste, who hope to make it an annual event and to build upon the achievement of this year.

BY LAURENCE McKEOWN