Fáilte Daily Ireland

The most exciting development in Irish journalism in my lifetime happened last Tuesday morning in Belfast.

The occasion was the launch of a new newspaper, Daily Ireland, by the Andersonstown News group.

An Cultúrlann, the venue selected to launch the paper in Belfast, was crowded with well wishers, republican scribes and politicians, and members and activists from the republican and nationalist community.

There was a buzz around the launch that said it all. This was a unique, a special occasion. There was great hope in the air that we were on the threshold of a ground-breaking development in the Irish media world; that at last a daily paper had arrived which would treat nationalist and republicans in a fair and unbiased manner.

Peppered through the crowd were people who for the last 30 years and more had taken on the anti-nationalist media based in Belfast and Dublin and who by their efforts created an effective alternative media in Irish and English.

With little resources but lots of passion and energy, they crusaded for their community. They provided a counterpoint view for those who knew the truth and who were being lied to or demonised by the media establishment.

It truly was a 'David and Goliath' contest.

Basil McLaughlin was there. With a small group of people he started the Andersonstown News over 30 years ago. With Séamas Mac Sheain they developed the community paper to the point where today there are north and south Belfast versions.

Out of this initiative came the Irish language paper Lá and its media offshoots.

Fr Des Wilson joined the launch. Almost single-handedly for decades his weekly column in the Andersonstown News challenged those in the religious and political establishment over their hypocrisy and double standards.

Danny Morrison was also there. He edited Republican News in the 1970s and the amalgamated An Phoblacht/ Republican News from 1979 and was Sinn Féin's first public face in the media. He was joined by Sinn Féin Councillor Tom Hartley, who opened the first republican press office on Belfast's Falls Road in 1973. Both men put a face to the republican message at a time when practically the only sound in the media came from guns and bombs.

Gerry Adams MP for West Belfast, who knows well the power of the media, having battled with them for decades over their failure to treat nationalists and republicans with respect, also turned out in support.

Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, the Managing Director of the group of newspapers, spoke at the launch. I think it is fair to say that without Máirtín's single-minded dedication to launching Daily Ireland, it would not have happened.

He summed up his feelings in a colourful phrase: "Let a thousand flowers bloom. And let no one be afraid of words."

The lead strap banner advertising the new paper was, 'The All-Ireland Paper You've Been Waiting For'.

The theme captured a mood that has been around nationalist and republican circles for decades.

For as far back as I can remember, republicans and nationalists have debated the need for and importance of a daily newspaper which would unconditionally advocate a united Ireland.

In 1975, I was part of a small group of republicans, which included Tom Hartley and Danny Morrison, who produced a daily Republican News. I think our valiant efforts lasted a few months.

Then there was undoubtedly a desire for such a daily but we lacked the resources and experience to fulfil that aspiration.

In the current climate of the Peace Process it is obvious that there is not only a niche for Daily Ireland across this country; there is also a political imperative, a demand, that there should be such a paper.

The IRA's cessation and the political process that has emerged has created a new reality for republicans and nationalists committed to a united Ireland.

The issues that gave rise to the armed struggle remain, although progress has been made on many fronts.

These issues have to be resolved if this conflict is to be consigned to history. Their resolution will create a level playing field which doesn't currently exist between unionists and nationalists in the Six Counties.

Once created, that level playing field will be the springboard for united Ireland politics to move onto a new plane.

Popular opinion has a big part to play in moving the political and peace process forward and shaping the political debate for reunification.

It is stating the obvious to say we live in a media age and that the media plays a bigger part in people's lives today than before. Opinion is undoubtedly influenced by the media and indeed, is shaped on occasions by it.

It is, therefore, important to have an outlet which is objective and independent.

I for one am looking forward to the campaign for a united Ireland being shaped by the people who write for Daily Ireland and by those who buy it.

Let a thousand flowers bloom and make sure the petals that fall end up as Daily Ireland newspapers on the shelves of shops in every main city and town in Ireland.