‘…Personally, I identify as Irish but also as Northern Irish and certainly as European.
And I think that’s why from my political perspective Europe was always a fundamental
part of the solution to hear that you can be Irish or British or both and European Union.
It allows people to have a regional identity and that kind of a blurred identity. And I
think the common membership of the European Union allowing Dublin and London to work together
as equals and neighbours were one of the things that helped to soften the relationship here.
Of course, because of the Good Friday Agreement people born here will always be entitled to
both Irish and British citizenship. And that for some people will take the sting out of
Brexit. But I think it in many ways will make people of Irish identity and an Irish Nationalist
identity probably firmer in that identity because the UK that was outward looking, that
was Social Democratic, that was part of the European Union was a more comfortable place
to be. And if that changes quite dramatically people will realign themselves a little bit
more on a north/south basis.
But equally, there are people who are unionist, feel British but are attached to their European
identity. Many of whom might access an Irish passport for practical reasons to get through
the airport more quickly and so on. But I think people’s identities aren’t as fluid
as they once were in Northern Ireland’
‘Well, from my perspective I would sort of quote John Hewitt, well actually paraphrase
John Hewitt and make it slightly differently than that. You know, I see myself as being
British. I see myself as being Northern Irish. I see myself as being Irish. I also see myself
as being a European. And I also see myself being a citizen of the wider world.
And that’s the thing about Northern Ireland, because for many people in Northern Ireland
that is the case. They see themselves as British. They see themselves as Irish. They see themselves
as Northern Irish. They see themselves as a bit of everything. And that was the beauty
of the Good Friday Agreement, and it was the Good Friday Agreement remember that our party,
the Ulster Unionist Party then led by David Trimble, that was part and parcel of where
we go to. Because it was trying to park the question of identity so we would be able to
move on.’
Every bone in my body, every breath that I take I am Irish through and through.
I have an Irish diplomatic passport and I have my own Irish passport.
We live in the north of Ireland. It is still, you know, we have got a thing called the Principle
Consent built into the Good Friday Agreement in the event of there being a border poll
and Irish unity. And we have signed up to work with, trying to bring the people to that
point where we get agreement on the island of Ireland. But that we can identify ourselves
as British and Irish and both.
But as I was saying, whether you’re British or Irish or both, I don’t want any second
class citizenship here. These people are entitled to have both. So, the 1.8 million people here
are entitled to EU protection, whether they hold an Irish passport or not. Because they
have been afforded the right to have that.
Do you see yourself as an Irish citizen who also happens to be an EU citizenship or do
you see yourself as Irish and European?
I see myself as Irish. And I see myself as an Irish citizen who has got afforded rights
by being a member of the EU.
Undeniably British.
Do you see yourself as an Ulsterman and British, Irish and British or…?
No, I probably define myself as British but, depending on which sporting event was taking
place at the time I be might more Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK or British.
But if anybody asks me, from abroad ever asks me where do you come from I would say I come
from the United Kingdom. I don’t even specify from Northern Ireland.
I travel on a British passport. I regard myself as a British citizen and I’m very, very
proud of my British history.
Did you feel any sense European? Any part of your identity in Europe?
No, I don’t. I enjoy travelling in Europe. And, you know, I would hope that when we leave
the EU I will continue to take my holidays in different parts of Europe.
Ride my motorbike across Europe.
Not stopping at borders? Buy European goods where they are price competitive,
etc. But I don’t feel that means that I have to remain part of the European Union.
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