Just call me Mehal!
What if I had been born an Irish Catholic Nationalist?
The other morning as I was walking down the hill I started thinking about how different would I be if I had been raised on the nationalist side of the fence in Ireland. I would say Ireland or the North of Ireland I wouldn’t say Northern Ireland.
I have been out of N/Ireland ( that’s a compromise) for over 24 years yet it remains in my heart and mind. I think of it every day.
I considered my ability to speak Irish Gaelic and reckoned based on my progress in French, German and Latin that I would struggle to speak Irish.
Religion-wise how would it have been if I were a Catholic ( most Irish nationalists are Catholics). This is a hard one as I have such a rebel heart that in time I would have struggled. I would have conformed to a degree though no doubt I would have had regular chats with the priest and challenged. I think I would have developed my relationship with God perhaps not too differently from how it is now. I would have found a group, Charismatic or Ignatian to which I felt at home.
Music wise while I would have learned a few ‘rebel’ songs. I probably would not have been into Irish music more than I am into music generally.
Sports wise would I have played GAA sports? Probably, but like the sports, I did play not very well.
Probably the biggest thing would have been to which political party would I have aligned myself? Knowing how I was in my youth it probably would have been a close call between the SDLP and Sinn Fein.
The activist in me would have believed Sinn Fein was more dynamic and somehow I would have justified their link to the IRA. I would in time have become disillusioned and sought solace in spirituality.
I would have wondered about the other side and probably crept into their churches. I would have been attracted to the difference of a young Protestant girl and had a secret liaison.
Curious as it seems to me I wouldn’t actually be that different to who I am today.
There would be one significant difference my name would be Mehal MacSiacais. Could you cope with that?
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Note re photo : at the time I was living in the Republic of Ireland and found it totally natural to carry the Irish flag.
