Leo Varadkar, the former Taoiseach made headlines last week by declaring that every party should make manifesto pledges that Irish Unification is “an objective, and not an aspiration”.
He has stepped back from electoral politics and as a result can say what he thinks freely, without being overly concerned about the impact of his words on votes.
It is an interesting approach and remains to be seen if it is an election ploy by the Fine Gael party in the south to overshadow what Sinn Féin have long called for with their border poll request.
Partition came into effect on this island in 1920 with the Government of Ireland Act which saw the creation of a border and a six-county Northern Ireland in 1921. The Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1922 saw the establishment of the Irish Free State.
A Boundary Commission was set up in 1924-1925 as part of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and Article 12 in the terms of reference stated they were there to “determine in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants so far as may be compatible with economic and geographic conditions, the boundaries between Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland” .
The vagueness of this did not help and the Boundary Commission failed. It also alienated a lot of Catholics and Nationalists along the border.
The failure of the Boundary Commission to change what had been implemented by the Government of Ireland Act left the border as it was and remains to this day.
Those of us interested in history know what happened in the subsequent years, but the GAA remained a 32-county all-island organisation.
While soccer would eventually split into two governing bodies, for the GAA ,it was important that the six counties remained part of their organisation.
Identity and belonging have always been key facets of what the GAA stands for.
The GAA in the six counties is different to the GAA in other parts of the country because, through the years, people have lost lives, been attacked and risked their lives to play Gaelic Games.
This did not happen in the rest of the country. I grew up in a border county and went to college in Derry so I saw how much the Irish language and Gaelic Games meant.
It is an identity and a form of expression of who you are, especially as there was a feeling among some of my college classmates that the south had sold northern nationalists out.
Ulster GAA is different to the rest of the provinces and I would go as far as to say that the six counties in Ulster are different to the other three.
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History has taught them to fight for what they believe in and I wonder if that idea of being “sold out” still permeates at times in their dealings with Croke Park and in their desire to be really seen.
This desire to be seen seeps through into the saga that is Casement Park.
Although planning permission has been granted for a 34,000 seater stadium, I’m not sure why a stadium of this size is needed.
A redevelopment of Casement Park is certainly required but why does it have to rival what St Tiernach’s Park in Clones already offers?
There has been a lot of conversation and debate on the issue, but what is it about Casement Park that is driving Ulster GAA to continue on this path of seeking to increase it to this capacity?
In one way, it is fuelled by a sense of fairness as upgrades have already been carried out to Ravenhill and Windsor Park and it makes sense that Ulster GAA want their fair share of the Executive’s Regional Stadia Programme.
Another way of looking at it is that by moving the Ulster final to Belfast, this constitutes a change and a shift in the relationship within Ulster GAA.
Belfast would become the new home and I wonder if the desire to have a 34,000 stadium is the result of wanting to “better” the Clones venue.
Clones has history and tradition and for me is the spiritual home for Ulster GAA.
I am biased but there is something special about walking through the town on the way to the grounds on Ulster final day witnessing the colours and banter of fans along the way.
Tradition can, of course change but this is one I would like to see staying in the Monaghan border town.
The arguments regarding traffic congestion in Clones do not add up.
Casement will have the same problems and, let’s face it, every GAA ground has traffic congestion as they were built at a time when they were part of the fabric of the town and cars were not as prevalent as they are now.
A huge question exists over finance and with the Labour government pulling back from investment at this time due to the fact that Casement will not be ready or available for the Euros in 2028, a major rethink is required.
The UK government has not said that they will not support a rebuild but questions remain as to where the money will come from outside of the GAA and the Irish government.
A yearly packed Ulster final is not a big enough pay day for the Ulster Council to help clear their debts.
Just look at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
As part of the Irish government’s Sports Capital Programme announced recently, €340,259 was allocated towards floodlights in St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
There is money in the south to support infrastructure so is it decision time for Ulster GAA as to where they see their future funds going and what way and where they want the Ulster Championship playing out?
History, tradition and identity are important to all nine counties in Ulster.
For Clones and the future of St Tiernach’s Park, there is a desire and hope that they will not be “sold out”.