Let’s demolish the oldest of all our myths

THE Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is to be greatly commended for his unceasing efforts to promote peace and reconciliation here in this State (no better man for that role could be imagined), between South and North and between Ireland and Britain.

If we are on the verge of an historic compromise in Belfast, can we at long last begin to dispense with myths that are to the disadvantage of us all?

On the threshold of a new-found peace, the Taoiseach referred to the 800 years of the ancient antagonism. I wish to say once again there was no such antagonism, not at least between the English and the Irish, and not for 800 years.

After the defeat of Harold at Hastings on October 14, 1066, the English or Anglo-Saxon aristocracy was systematically and ruthlessly eliminated by the Norman conquerors.

Eight centuries ago the English were as capable of invading and conquering Ireland as the present English football team was capable of beating Croatia in Zagreb last week.

Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, was not English. He did not have an English name (Richard FitzGilbert) and he spoke French, not English, as his successors for at least two more centuries were to do. He was accompanied not by the English but by Bretons and Welsh (Pembroke being in Wales).

It is time for us all to wake up from our historical slumbers. It has been a bad dream.

Gerald Morgan

School of English

Trinity College

Dublin