Tonight TPQ features guest writer, ex-Blanket columnist and ardent Royalist Dr John Coulter who maintains it’s time for the Catholic Royalist tradition in Ireland to come out of the political closet and show their colours.
Spare a thought for the thousands of Catholic Royalists across Ireland who have to keep their heads down rather than publicly mark Queen Bess’s Diamond Jubilee shindig.
Loyalist and Unionists estates, towns and villages will organise hosts of noisy street parties and festivities, while poor old Monarchy-loving ‘left footers’ have to stay indoors and toast Bess with a quiet glass of sherry.
Maybe Stormont deputy First Minister Marty McGuinness or Louth TD Gerry Adams could mark the Jubilee by setting a date for the most memorable handshake in Irish history since the Chuckle Brothers. Marty shaking hands with Bess at Buck House or Stormont would be even more iconic than Big Ian Paisley sitting beside Adams to unveil devolution at Parliament Buildings.
The Shinners are honour bound to return the serve after Bess paid tribute to the nationalist dead in Dublin and had a wee dander across Croker. For generations, nationalists who had fought and died for the Crown lay in unmarked graves across Ireland. It’s time for the Catholic Royalist tradition to be recognised and honoured.
Even many Orange historians admit the vital role played by King Billy’s elite Catholic troops in winning the battle of the Boyne. And if a British Prime Minister can apologise for the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry, Sinn Fein can say sorry on behalf of the IRA for murdering Bess’s close relative, Louis Mountbatten in a boat bomb.
Over the Jubilee week, and indeed right through the Marching Season, Protestants will be publicly honouring Bess with bunting, flags and banners. But let any Catholic Royalist try to fly the Royal Sovereign flag in the Bogside, Falls or south Armagh and see what fuss the Shinners kick up – or indeed what kicking those Royalists get!
It was dangerous enough being a member of the security forces during the Troubles, but being a Catholic cop or squaddie was 10 times worse on the nerves. I know numerous Northern nationalists who wanted to be cops and serve their communities, but were forced to go south and become Gardai in case the Provos or INLA shot them.
If the Shinners want to reach out the hand of friendship to Unionists, maybe they could start in their own communities and allow Catholic Royalists to publicly commemorate the Jubilee. While the Orange and Black orders remain exclusively Protestant, surely they could find some Catholic soldier who fought for King Billy that they could bedeck on a wee banner?The Orange Order once had a Belfast lodge which had the Irish language on its banner.
What about the annual Donegal dander at Rossnowlagh being used as a springboard to launch a commemoration of the Catholic Williamite and Royalist tradition in Ireland?
Republicans don’t seem to have any hang-ups about celebrating Protestants who fought and died for the nationalist cause, so maybe the time has come for Unionists to put Adams and McGuinness on the spot about honouring Catholic Royalists.
Now that would be some sight. Picture the annual Sham Fight at Scarva where an estimated 60,000 Prods, including bands and the Black Order, mark King Billy’s Boyne victory.
It’s not a silly case that the organisers allow James to win the occasional year, prompting the headline: Shock Win For James!
But it would be rather spectacular for thousands of Prods watching the Sham Fight if they were to cheer a section of King Billy’s army in period uniforms portraying his elite Catholic troops.
And Irish Catholics have plenty of English monarchs to commemorate. Just because James II lost the Battle of the Boyne, Catholic Royalists seemed to have shunned him, just as Prods seem to conveniently forget that he was King Billy’s father-in-law.
The Jubilee celebrations will bring the whole monarchy debate back into the public debating chamber. Sinn Fein did not object to a jubilee gift going to the Queen from the Northern Ireland Assembly. If the Scottish Nationalists win the independence referendum, an independent Scotland would still have the Queen as head of state.
And given the warming of relations between the UK, Ireland and Russia, how long will it be before we see a new Tsar representing Russia at state functions?
Before die-hard republicans begin chanting ‘Off with Coulter’s head’, maybe they should look at the history of the Sinn Fein movement. Its founding fathers were not all militant, violent republicans – what about Irish Home Rule under the Crown?
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There are many 1st and 2nd world war medals hidden in Catholic attics across the country. Not sure though that those Catholics who served were Royalist, just in need of a wage more likely.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting post. I'm sure there are many who would like to honour fallen comrades in the British forces. But John Coulter seems to forget the nasty exclusion nature of Protestantism. There was never any attempt at parity from Unionists at any time. Maybe with the head honcho of the Orange Order set to address the Senate things are taking a new turn?
John I agree with Larry here,the majority of those who fought for the british army did so to feed their families not out of any loyality to any crown,as a republican the thought of honoring any of those leeches makes me want to puke ,and I say this not from a nationalist republican point but from a socialist republican perspective, you wrote here a while ago a very moving account of your daily life,and the struggle it is for you and your wife to cope with your autistic child,you told us of your fears for his future and how little there is in the way of assistance from the statutory agencies to provide support or help ,yet you dont seem in the slightest bothered on the millions that was spent on glorifying these leeches. never mind the millions spent on their upkeep.money that could well be better spent on the likes of your child or our elderly,hospitals etc, the present monarchy is not even representative of the population as a whole and in fact discriminates against a sizeable section of the population ie,catholics. and possibly muslims .no matter what religon a king and queen were I for one would prefer to see them with their heads in a guillotine.
ReplyDeleteJohn
ReplyDeleteI honestly hope your Autistic child is doing fine, also your good lady.
I agree that a few , "So Called Nationalists" , support the monarch.
They do not know which side their bread is buttered on, ie, they kick with both feet, I would call people like that, Spies, Traitors, Why, because you either go One way or the Other. I would like you to answer this question, "Do you not believe in equal rights" ?, if equal rights had have been implemented for all citizens of the province of ulster then i believe that the recent war would not have been necessary, nearly 4000 lives lost, for what? , others will disagree with me , even my republican comrades.
Your Monarchs family, going back to history, especially The Duke of Edinburgh , who was born in Greece, went to school in Nazi Germany, how can you support such a person ?, he is not, and, never was a British citizen, if you delve through your own , So Called British History, you will find Russian stock within it as well. Why should you, or, I go out to work 6/7 days a week to keep these people in luxury , why ?.
I come from a mixed family, My Late grandfather fought in the first and second world wars, he was shell shocked, none of his Orange Lodge COMRADES wanted to know him, so My late mother brought him home to live with us in Ardoyne, he was well known, he went out once a week, On a wednesday, His british military pension day. He was buried out of Holy Cross Chapel in Ardoyne, We his proper family looked after him, did we get any thanks, NO.
I would ask you to take my point of view, Ireland is an Island, It is not connected to any part of any other country, it is surrounded by water, Invaded by Britain, If you went to live in, lets say, London, they would call you a "Paddy", do not think for one moment those English people give one iota about you.
I hope you get my meaning, everyone born on the Island of Ireland is Irish, well, that's how the English people look at it, and, I wish you could see it that way as well, John; don't forget, three counties of the Province of Ulster, which is one of four provinces of Ireland lies within the 32 counties of Eire. I have been taught, its not our country which is divided, Its our People, Ireland will never be United Until its People Unite.
Itsjustmacker
ReplyDeleteSound post. I had similar experience. My granda was in WW2 and survived Dunkirk where the Royal Ulster riffles were told to fight to the last man as the English shot French troops in their haste to get off the beaches. He survived the Normandy landings too only to die of heartattack defending RC houses at home in 1973. My dad bought himself out of the RAF when that happened, i was 9yrs old. So, i know for a fact it was dire necessity for a job, not love of any monarchy. Ironic they couldn't find work at home. Why was that Mr. Coulter?.
In relation to the Orange Order, a lodge refused to let a Protestant join in Lurgan..because his BROTHER had married a Catholic.
Absolutely correct on the recent troubles, they sowed the seeds of that episode from the day they arrived here. They bellyache about 1641...but learn nothing ...why these things happen doesn't seem relevant to the Protestants. THEY ARE NOT VICTIMS. Their antics since coming here were fascist.
Marty if you ever build that guillotine...make sure there are no nails preventing it dropping properly lol.
John did you see the clips of Liz the brit wearing what looks like an unfinished mummy wrap,pity it wasnt.
ReplyDeleteLarry when I build something a cara the thing will have a conveyor belt to feed it ,there is that many of the slimeballs to be dealt with,on a positive note we will never run short of black pudding...
ReplyDeleteUnlike Irish politicans, QE2 didn't sell her nation to the Germans.
ReplyDeletemarty
ReplyDeleteur at it again..near chocked on my dinner...relax fionnuala and Tain Bo...i'm fine.
Dave
you ever hear the name Bttenburg, she is a German.
Larry, they call her Betty Battenberg
ReplyDeleteDave ya slipped there a cara as Larry said she is indeed German from the Saxe-Coburg -Gotha lineage and Philip is indeed Greek,but hey the English are a bastard race anyway,having been invaded and conquered on at least four separate occasions.
ReplyDeleteAlso Dave her nation sold the QE2
ReplyDeleteMackers
ReplyDeleteGood reading that. How depessing are those who have 'everything'. Another wealthy musician took his own life today over medical issues seemingly...Thank zod i'm destitute.
What is John basing his assumption that there exists hundreds of Catholic Royalists across Ireland?
ReplyDeleteIs it a survey or wishful thinking?
Regardless of the anachronistic concept of socio- political priveledge and divine rights, it fails me to comprehend why Catholics would trump for a Head of State they could never become.
Why succumb to this inane jingoism thats being propogated to mask economic hardship being enforced by the same political camp thats pushing a similarily anachronistic agenda of social inequality and less eligibility?
For me, Royalism and everything it represents is a concept that needs to be consigned to the dustbin and not celebrated by anyone be it Irish Nationalists or Northern Loyalists.
marty
ReplyDelete'the English are a bastard race anyway,having been invaded and conquered on at least four separate occasions'.
And the crazy thing is their population accepted and welcomed it..How then they hate the French/Normans so much is a mystery to me...or the Germans/Saxons.. Cant wait til they play France in the footie.
AM.
ReplyDeleteGood link that, and , good reading, but, its nothing new to me, seems the whole royals are just a piece of CAKE.
Tomas.
I agreed with him, that some wanted to be british, THE TOUTS/SPIES/INFORMERS. and to this very day they are still in our midst being paid by the british crown as MLA's , and this is what they say will unite Ireland. wtf. Cant wait for 2016!.
@Larry Hughes
ReplyDeleteSound post. I had similar experience. My granda was in WW2 and survived Dunkirk where the Royal Ulster riffles were told to fight to the last man as the English shot French troops in their haste to get off the beaches.
Did you know that the Royal Ulster Rifles were the most Loyalist Regiment in the british Forces, It is written that when the three regiments , Royal Irish Fusileers , Royal Eniskillen Fusileers and the Ulster Rifles regimental bands were allowed to beat the lambeg and march on the square playing Orange Lodge Party sons on the 12th of July?. I know a bloke who done 22 years service in the Ulster Rifles, and, was in PIRA, cant mention his name, but have always been very dubious about him, and i still am to this very day.
Tomas,
ReplyDelete'What is John basing his assumption that there exists hundreds of Catholic Royalists across Ireland?'
The SF Ard Fheis!
Maith thù Freddie
ReplyDeleteitsjustmacker
ReplyDeletei'd ask my granda but he died when i hardly knew him...sad times when people felt the need to join outfits like that..Though there are Protestant relations on my mums side...but i never knew them. Although knowing what we do now about the Provos...sounds like the guy you're on about was in the leadership.
Larry John Joe was ex army and he was Scaps boss and yip its well said he was just like Scap.ie a brussell,Phil Mc Cullough the manager of thatcher house Anytout rd ex para,there is more than a few ex-dummy tits in the movement through the years some served with distinction,one lad in particular ex sas was blown up around the gas works late 70 early 80 if memory serves me right.some I met I wouldnt touch with a barge pole,
ReplyDeleteMarty,
ReplyDeletePaul Marlowe. October 1976. Died with Francie Fitz and Joey Surgeoner.
Marty,
ReplyDeleteapparently when they were caught that time in the Sandy House the locals thought the touts were using that house as a changing room where they were getting ready to play Donegal Celtic!
Marty
ReplyDeleteIt's just scary and all the more reason never to leave our kids and grandkids at the potential mercy of people like that. I mean what for? So the trash can sit it out and get cushy wee jobs when it ends in defeat...AGAIN!!
I think its been well said here Larry countless times,the failure of the prm campaign should be a lesson to all who think the brits can be defeated militarily its a no brainer,from the simple point that the brits have been so well entrenched here that any new campaign is doomed before it starts, it is sad that ejits like Joe Cahill who shouted to all "yah we won" fools like him fill graves and gaols.and let the likes of the bearded one and his cronies to con so many decent men and women,including the hunger strikers,republicans should and will continue to push for a united Ireland(even with the state its in) but we need to do it without killing, can it be done I really think so a cara,
ReplyDeletemarty
ReplyDeleteagree about Joe Cahill, Adams wheeled him out when needed the way the brits used to do with Fitt. Funny that.
Larry same masters ,same song, just different instruments!
ReplyDeletemarty
ReplyDeletethink you mean 'tools' not instruments lol
Nah Larry I was playing with( and John,s gonna love me here )John Rutter,s prayer of st Francis of ARSES...."LORD MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT" A dick I cried....
ReplyDeletebig RC shindig on rte2...cuttin into footie time...sacraledge!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLarry,
ReplyDeleteclowns with croziers telling the rest of us how to behave. And we are all listening attentively no doubt.
Peter punt now thinks lizzy Windsor would have a problem shaking hands with his sidekick, maybe a group hug will be the order of the day...
ReplyDelete