An evolving society - Embracing the Ireland of today

IT seems somehow appropriate to close what was a truly incredible and distressing week with a very pronounced move away from the traditions, cultural and religious, that were the most powerful influence on the character and behaviour of this society for well over a century.

Systems, especially belief systems, are brought into disrepute when a society that took their principles to heart see them ignored and broken on a gargantuan scale. That those who ignored those mores, if not the laws of this society, seem to avoid sanction of any kind can only add to the sense of obsolescence surrounding once-honoured belief systems.

Nevertheless, very considerable numbers of people will have taken offence, and in some instances felt genuine hurt, that the usual Good Friday strictures were overthrown yesterday and that pubs right across the country were open for business, though only some in Limerick city were allowed to sell alcohol.

Traditional Catholics should take comfort in the fact that no offence or hurt was intended. Yesterday’s relaxation was nothing more than a very belated acknowledgement that not all of Irish people see Christianity, much less Catholicism, as the doctrine that might enrich their lives. It acknowledged that the State must accommodate all Irish people, not just those who believe that the Pope is God’s representative on earth.

By legalising the sale of alcohol in Limerick we were doing no more than putting in place the conditions that exist right across Europe and America, the conditions faced by the scores of thousands of people who have been forced to emigrate from this confused, hypocritical and damaged society.

Conversely, some traditional Catholics would find it hard to accept that other Irish people, in growing numbers, are offended when the relationship between the Catholic church and the State is underlined by public displays of something more than respect or even deference.

The guards of honour provided by the army during the hugely popular visit to Ireland by the relicts of St Thérèse some time ago were a perfect example of what one section would regard as nothing unusual or questionable while others were deeply uncomfortable with the army’s involvement. It was nothing to do with St Thérèse or her devotees, it was that it is no longer appropriate for the State to so vividly endorse any single set of beliefs. That is the reality of Ireland today and we can pretend that nothing has changed or we can embrace the multicultural future that is here already.

There are many areas of potential conflict and education and the control of our schools are probably the most fraught. Conservatives who imagine the present situation, where Catholicism dominates our schools, can remain unchanged are as wrong as those who would have religion removed from our schools completely.

Ireland is not the first country to have to confront these issues and we must do it in a way that unifies and strengthens this society, in a way that respects and honours all beliefs. Though yesterday’s small step towards a pluralist Ireland, towards a real Republic, says as much about our relationship with alcohol as it does about our relationship with Catholicism it was, inevitably, just the first of many.