{"id":55400,"date":"2024-04-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.declassifieduk.org\/?p=55400"},"modified":"2024-04-08T14:10:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T13:10:40","slug":"the-closest-weve-been-since-partition-irish-reunification-on-the-horizon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.declassifieduk.org\/the-closest-weve-been-since-partition-irish-reunification-on-the-horizon\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The closest we\u2019ve been since partition\u2019: Irish reunification on the horizon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In Northern Ireland, the 12th of July serves as a reminder of the still raw sectarian wounds of the recent past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Twelfth\u201d, as it\u2019s known, is a protestant day of parades and marches. It celebrates the victory of King William of Orange over catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. This ensured a protestant ascendancy in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The night before, named the Eleventh Night, it is tradition for unionist communities to build huge bonfires, sometimes with effigies of republican politicians, and have street parties into the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I walk up towards a protestant community in north Belfast, but to get there I have to go through New Lodge, a working class catholic area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs Tiger\u2019s Bay that way?\u201d I ask at a local newsagent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, it is, but be careful, it\u2019s rowdy tonight,\u201d the man tells me. \u201cWhere are you from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLondon,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, okay, you\u2019ll be fine, then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like most of Belfast it\u2019s clear when I\u2019ve crossed the unmarked lines dividing the communities still. In Tiger\u2019s Bay, union jack flags flutter all around while pictures of King Charles III appear in windows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Down Upper Canning St, I come to a large parking lot which has been converted into a party venue. Huge speakers pump out house music at an incredible volume. Teenagers stand around drinking spirit mixers and beers. The star of the show is the huge bonfire in front, not yet lit at 11pm. It has an Irish tricolour flag strapped across it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stand around with a beer for ten minutes before one of the kids asks: \u201cWhat you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust looking around,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n