“If there’s going to be a united Ireland, that Ireland is going to look different.”
Patrick Kielty has been praised for his views on a potential united Ireland, which he shared during an interview on RTÉ’s the Tommy Tiernan Show.
The comedian and TV presenter shared his measured and honest views on the potential political reunification of the island with Tommy Tiernan.
Kielty, 51, is from Co. Down and comes from a nationalist background. His father John was murdered by the Ulster Freedom Fighters group in 1988. Patrick was just 16 at the time.
Kielty believes that, for a united Ireland to become a possibility, both sides will need to accept that compromise will be required. He said that a united island will ‘look different’ if all sides are to buy into it.
A fascinating exchange between @PatricKielty and @Tommedian last night.
Kielty brings the audience and presenter to an awkward silence after challenging the "Up the 'RA" culture that has emerged in Ireland. pic.twitter.com/HVyRGyHks5— Mr Virtue Signal (@MrVirtueSignal) January 15, 2023
“The north has always sorted itself out in spite of the politicians,” Kielty told Tiernan.
“Most people in the north are really very interested in what’s happening down here, and how you guys are going to move forward.
“You know if you look at two peoples in the north, who were polar opposites and wanted each other dead and you have to compromise to live. You have to compromise, you have to give ground.
“If you’ve got people down here talking about a new Ireland and what that’s going to look like.
“You know, people down here don’t have to give up anything, but if they want that, they’re going to have to start thinking about maybe making some compromises in some things that people up the road were forced to do.
“You can’t physically unite the island and have nearly a million unionists up the road joining this country without changing some furniture to make those people feel welcome.
“I think you could probably start with not singing, ‘Oooh ah, up the ‘RA’ in the changing rooms, maybe,” Kielty said, referencing the recent incident when the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team sang Celtic Symphony after qualifying for the World Cup
Big thanks to the mighty @Tommedian for having me on tonight. For the kindness, the understanding and making hard things easier. To everyone who watched, thanks for all your messages. Really means a lot. Here’s to the future.
— Patrick Kielty (@PatricKielty) January 14, 2023
Tiernan said that the incident was ‘harmless’. “I know it is,” Kielty said.
“But, you know, what’s funny about it is that if you were asked to rejoin the commonwealth and you saw the Northern Ireland ladies’ team up there singing, ‘They’re up to their neck in Fenian blood’, and singing the ‘Sash’… You’d sit there and think to yourself, ‘I’m not sure about that’.
“What I always say is, ‘It’s a lot easier to sing a rebel song about a united Ireland than not sing it to have it.’
“You can’t ask people to come and join the country and not actually say, ‘You’re part of the country’. There’s nobody up the road who needs conversion therapy.
“They know they’re British, the way that when I was growing up I knew I was Irish.
“If there’s going to be a united Ireland, that Ireland is going to look different.”
Kielty was praised on social media for how he articulated his views on a sensitive topic. He also spoke about the tragic death of his father.
“I think that I thought I was dealing with it.”@patrickielty tells @Tommedian about the experience of his father being shot dead when he was aged just 16#TommyTiernanShow pic.twitter.com/ShRb1uHN0N
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) January 14, 2023
Well said Patrick, great courage and much appreciated
— Sean O'Neill (@TimesONeill) January 15, 2023
Glad Patrick Kielty is getting the credit he deserves. As a NI Nationalist, I have NI friends who consider themselves British and partake in Unionist culture. If a UI happened tomorrow, I’d want them to feel just as welcome and British as today. A UI has to be a Shared Ireland
— Sinéad (@arcticnead) January 15, 2023
The only bad thing about your interview was that it ended!! Loved it and you gave a lot of people a lot to think about. Best of luck with your new show
— Paul Treyvaud (@PaulTreyvaud) January 15, 2023
" it's easier to sing rebel songs about a United Ireland and not have it rather than have a United Ireland and not sing them"
Patrick Kielty explaining such complex, sensitive topics with such ease and grace. He's a great human being.#TommyTiernanShow
— Gordon Forbes (@gordonf0rbes) January 14, 2023
Patrick Kielty exposing the poor attitude of many in the South to those in the North, they are often considered Irish in every part of the world, but not so much a few miles down the road. #tommytiernanshow
— Timmy Hammersley (@TimmyHammersley) January 14, 2023
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