On our national day, Enda should be here

I recently wrote to An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to express my view that the practice of both, his, and his ministers, being off the island, over the St Patrick’s Day festival, is not only misguided, but very wrong.

On our national day, the leader of the 26 counties should be here, with us, as should the majority of his cabinet.

St Patrick, you’ll remember, brought the Gospel to Ireland, and for our leaders to be absent on the day that honours him is a disrespect to Christ himself.

In fact, it would be far more appropriate for ministers to visit Belfast and Derry than Washington or Beijing, for they are part of the territory of the Irish nation.

To be frank, the Dublin government is out of touch with Ireland’s pretty harsh reality, a defect that could be easily remedied by simply reading The Irish News daily.

A major, and historic, first step in the healing of Ireland’s ills could be taken on St Patrick’s weekend.

The politicians north and south could gather at City Hall in Belfast to declare the ‘new republic of 32 counties’ on March 15, perhaps. We could then enjoy a mature, responsible, but joyful, celebration over the following two days.

It’s time for all of us on this island to take matters into our own hands, and grasp the future, for it is the only future. All we need is the courage, and political will, to seize the moment of opportunity.

Cadhla Ní Frithile

Clonard

Co Wexford