‘Ould enemy’ our new best friend

IT was a long time coming - about 800 years, give or take a few skirmishes - but Ireland’s ‘ould enemy’ is about to become our NBF, or New Best Friend.

At least that’s what the British Council hope will result from a forum they have set up to explore the changing relationship between ourselves and Britain - a website called www.britainandireland.org.

The British Council went straight to the enemy camp of Croke Park yesterday to kick off their brave initiative with the theme of sport and former Irish rugby international Trevor Ringland, a unionist, did the honours.

He still remembers the life-changing experience of a game in Lansdowne Road in 1996 organised by former Ireland rugby international Hugo McNeill. The first IRA ceasefire had broken down and McNeill organised the match to allow people to show their support for peace.

“Hugo and I were joined by young people who had lost family or friends in our Troubles, Darren Baird who lost his mother in the Shankill bomb and Thomas Mullen whose brother was shot dead at Greysteele.

“I am a unionist, but since that day my politics have been driven by a belief that we have wasted enough lives in our country.”

Tony Reilly, Director of the British Council Ireland, explained why sport was chosen as the first theme the website explores.

“Mention any topic, such as the support in Ireland for British Premiership soccer clubs to the growing popularity of cricket in Ireland, and a range of varied, challenging views emerge from all quarters,” he said.

“So if you’ve got a view on Rule 42, think cricket is for toffs, are still in the ‘Anyone But England’ camp for the World Cup, and still feel uncomfortable about foreign games at Croke Park, log on and let us know.”