Borderless thoughts on Politics, Public Affairs, the media and anything else that matters from Conall McDevitt, SDLP MLA for South Belfast
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  • Is McAleese wrong?

    Posted on January 5th, 2009 Conall McDevitt 3 comments

    The Newsletter has a front page splash about President McAleese’s comments that many Irish men joined the British Army before the First World War to escape poverty. Her comments have been condemned by Jeffrey Donaldson MP, MLA of the DUP who says they fought out of a deep sense of patriotism.

    I don’t wish to make a political point this morning but do think Mr Donaldson’s analysis is inaccurate and unfair. There is ample historical evidence to support the President’s remarks. Only three months ago the Royal Irish Academy published an excellent book on Irish in the First World War and between its covers is a detailed and serious examination about the motivations and ambitions which fulled young Irishmen to join the British Army at that time. The facts are that there were many reasons why young Irishmen joined up. Many did so because of the promise of home rule others out of a sense of allegiance to the Crown and there is ample evidence that many, particularly from rural areas, were highly motivated to join because of the pay and pensions which went with the job.

    The Newsletter’s editorial twists the President’s remarks to suit a very narrow view of history and does not move matters on at all.

    Fact is young Irishmen are still joining the British Army and serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. This is not out of a sense of patriotism but because they want to be part of one of the great armies of the world are looking for a career as professional soldiers in interesting theatres.

    This may not be the most noble of reasons but that is life.

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    3 responses to “Is McAleese wrong?”

    1. Ronan January 5th, 2009 at 14:17

      Hi Conall,

      Interesting blog and an interesting post. There’s always a lot of lively discussion about this and the whole Poppy issue every November across the island, and as you point out it’s rare progress is made on the issue! My own viewpoint would be close to yours – that they’re both right, but that neither is fully right. People fought for a myriad of reasons, including income, job security, desire for adventure, patriotism, Home Rule promises (later on), desire to escape an insular society, etc…

      A fascinating book on the topic is ‘Heroic Option’, by Desmond and Jean Bowen. (I must admit, I’ve bought but not yet read ‘Our War’.) One of the nuggets they had in there was that there were more Irishmen in the British army during the Crimean War than any other nationality, which really does force Irish people to rethink their notions of ‘the British Army’ as a historical force.

      Anyway, keep up the interesting musings,

      Ronan.

    2. Standing up for Macca! | Semper Idem January 5th, 2009 at 23:34

      [...] Anyway, if you want to read sense on this issue, take a gander at the O Connall Street’s piece on this. [...]

    3. Tom, London January 6th, 2009 at 15:32

      Unfortunately McAleese’s rhetoric again exemplifies the nationalist denial that there could have been any sense of patriotism associated with Irish involvement with the UK war effort.

      “If only the people of Ireland could realise their true position in this great Empire, which the genius of Irish statesmen and the valour of Irish soldiers had so much aided in creating, Ireland would become in heart, as it had long been in right, an integral portion of the United Kingdom”

      Edward Leeson, Earl of Milltown
      House of Lords Debate, 10th August 1885

      Even 120 years ago the refusal of the nationalists to recognise Ireland’s immense contribution to the UK was evident. Little has changed!

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