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Paisley rebuked for wearing a shamrock by DUP members
Saturday, 17 January 2009
enlargeIan Paisley has told how he was rebuked for wearing a St Patrick’s shamrock — by members of his own party.
And he said DUP members objected to his call for St Patrick’s Day to be made a public holiday in Northern Ireland.
The former First Minister also quipped that if Ulster Scots becomes more widely used, people would “need a dictionary”.
His comments came in an interview on Belfast’s Irish language radio station Raidió Fáilte 107.1fm, broadcast yesterday, in which the DUP leader spoke of his long admiration for Saint Patrick and Saint Columba.
But while he said he wanted both Protestants and Catholics to recognise their common Christian heritage, Mr Paisley was not so sure the saints could act as unifiers.
“Ulster people are strange people,” Mr Paisley told interviewer Caoimhe Ní Chathail.
“I have had DUP people objecting to me wearing a St Patrick's shamrock on St Patrick's Day. I have people from my own party who objected to me saying it should be made a public holiday.”
When there was that criticism “from your own side of the fence” the North Antrim MP added, it showed the difficulties surrounding acceptance of Irish by unionists.
The former Free Presbyterian Moderator, who once said he always celebrates the day by preaching about St Patrick, revealed last year that he would like to see March 17 as an Ireland-wide holiday.
He also made the proposal in the House of Commons.
The short exchange was a scoop for the station, which has been in operation for around two and a half years.
Station manager Fergus Ó hÍr said it formed the station’s ongoing efforts to bring the Irish language to all parts of the community and show that it is “part of the cultural heritage of everyone and does not belong to one section or group in society”.
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Steve, how is Big Ian a "convert to the All-Ireland concept"? Sounds like the usual rhetoric from those of a certain persuasion, when non-nationalists/republicans comment on being "Irish" or embrace the shamrock (as is the case here).
How about accepting that one can be Irish and at the same time, embrace their favouring of the Union, embrace their Britishness, embrace "Orangeism" etc etc and other non-nationalist/republican traits.
Simply put, I guess it bugs you that such "Irishmen & Irishwomen" exist....
Posted by mickey | 19.01.09, 11:35 GMT
St. Patrick's Day should be celebrated by everyone of a christian persuasion in Northern Ireland.
The fact that Paisley is speaking about this now makes me wonder, why he didn't speak of it when he was at his peak, or maybe he didn't want it known otherwise the bigoted followers that filled his churchs and collection plates would have not supported him in a way that made him in a pretty good living all these years.
Posted by John | 18.01.09, 21:28 GMT
Good point RS - I suspect Belfast should have read Antrim - but you are right - surprising that such a basic error goes through to publication - does anybody proof read these things ?
Posted by Alex | 18.01.09, 16:48 GMT
I'm based in Newcastle, England. Here we celebrate St Patricks day on a fairly grand scale, but in Belfast when Im home I never once did because of social divisions. I think its about time that more unity came to the NI. Hopefully 17th March is not seen as a Catholic/Nationalist day in belfast for much longer by some people who haven't the ability to think too well.
Posted by Chris | 18.01.09, 10:05 GMT
I am genuinely delighted in reading this piece from your web-page. It has come a long way and I wish the end is near - everyone in Ireland to celebrate the part of your colourful culture.
As a student in Queens in the late '70s to early '80s, today I remain fond of the people and the land.
Posted by Uri Law | 18.01.09, 03:10 GMT
R S Heaney Jnr III - you are quite right, we shouldn't allow historical accuracy to creep into these discussions.
Posted by erasmus | 17.01.09, 22:15 GMT
Ian Paisley is MP and MLA for North Antrim not North Belfast. His party colleague, Nigel Dodds, represents North Belfast.
Posted by Crow | 17.01.09, 19:51 GMT
St. Patrick's Day should be celebrated by everyone of a christian persuasion in Northern Ireland considering the links that Northern Ireland has with him. He 1st landed here, was enslaved here, established his 1st church here and created Armagh as his ecclesiastical capital. Considering St Patrick's arguments with Rome Dr. Paisley has a real reason to respect him.
Posted by RS | 17.01.09, 19:33 GMT
Erasmus - you're no doubt the pedant's pedant. Or hard of thinking if you couldn't work out that Helen was referring to the territory which is now NI.
Posted by R. Seamus Heaney Jnr III | 17.01.09, 19:27 GMT
Jim Guinnessey: Please read your comments again, hopefully you will realize that you are showing your bigotry; maybe its just a mistake but...
Posted by Stuart | 17.01.09, 18:48 GMT
Helen - hate to burst your bubble but only one of your parents was born in Northern ireland. Northern Ireland did not exist in 1910.
Posted by erasmus | 17.01.09, 16:07 GMT
I am writing from Toronto.
I am of Irish Decent - Both my Parents were born in Northern Ireland - 1910 and 1925 ---
My Father at 98 has been a member of the Orange Order since July 12 1931 - 2 years after he came to Canada.
Our Family also belong to the Sons & Daughters of Ireland, Protestant Assoc, that has been in existance since 1893. Our members are Irish or of Irish decent. We celebrate St. Patrcks day - with an annual church service in March.
I am pleased to see that Rev. Ian Paisley celebrates it as well.
And I hope that he continues to do so.
Thank you
Helen Taylor
Posted by Helen Taylor | 17.01.09, 15:23 GMT
Since when did you see Nationaists wearing an Orange Lily on the 12th of July? Or more relevant still, since when did you see an old ex-serviceman selling poppies on the Falls Road in November? "Paltry and bigoted minds" perhaps? As for old Paisley, he is a late-date convert to the All-Ireland concept!
Posted by Steve | 17.01.09, 15:18 GMT
That Ian Paisley should take heat from the DUP over wearing a shamrock and for urging St. Patrick's Day to be made into an All-Ireland holiday just shows you what paltry and bigoted Protestant minds still try to control Northern Ireland politics.
Posted by Jim Guinnessey | 17.01.09, 15:01 GMT
And I thought Ian Paisley was the king of bigotry.
I did not know there where even more extreme in the DUP,oh God help us.
Posted by william cameron | 17.01.09, 14:40 GMT
The shamrock is for all people in ROI and NI.
Our NI Armed Forces of the Crown are proud to wear the shamrock on St.Patrick's Day.
So should all citizens of the ROI and NI. Ian Paisley was correct to seek to make it a National Holiday for NI.
St Patrick is the Patron Saint for both North and South (ROI & NI) and lived in an era when there was the one church. Who knows which way to woul chosen if born when the church divided?
Posted by RGB | 17.01.09, 14:26 GMT
Who is exercising editorial quality control in Belfast Telegraph? Since when was Dr Paisley the MP for North Belfast?
Posted by RS | 17.01.09, 11:06 GMT