Irish Benevolent Society

[belfastlad]

In 1877, a breakthrough in Irish Canadian Protestant-Catholic relations occurred in London, Ontario. This was the founding of the Irish Benevolent Society, a brotherhood of Irishmen and women of both Catholic and Protestant faiths. The society promoted Irish Canadian culture, but it was forbidden for members to speak of Irish politics when meeting. This companionship of Irish people of all faiths quickly tore down the walls of sectarianism in Ontario. Today, the Society is still operating.

So why hasn't something like this developed in the north? Some kind of cross community fraternity in which republicanism and loyalism would be banned and focus on the simple fact of the 2 communities getting to be friendly without all the baggage on a large scale as it works on a small scale in daily life with most people.

[Jemee Hope]

In 1877, a breakthrough in Irish Canadian Protestant-Catholic relations occurred in London, Ontario. This was the founding of the Irish Benevolent Society, a brotherhood of Irishmen and women of both Catholic and Protestant faiths. The society promoted Irish Canadian culture, but it was forbidden for members to speak of Irish politics when meeting. This companionship of Irish people of all faiths quickly tore down the walls of sectarianism in Ontario. Today, the Society is still operating.

So why hasn't something like this developed in the north? Some kind of cross community fraternity in which republicanism and loyalism would be banned and focus on the simple fact of the 2 communities getting to be friendly without all the baggage on a large scale as it works on a small scale in daily life with most people.

Believe it or not Belfast, when I was a kid in the fifties and sixties growing up in a mixed neighborhood, the people on our streets got along very well. It was thirty years of grief that changed it all.

[belfastlad]

In 1877, a breakthrough in Irish Canadian Protestant-Catholic relations occurred in London, Ontario. This was the founding of the Irish Benevolent Society, a brotherhood of Irishmen and women of both Catholic and Protestant faiths. The society promoted Irish Canadian culture, but it was forbidden for members to speak of Irish politics when meeting. This companionship of Irish people of all faiths quickly tore down the walls of sectarianism in Ontario. Today, the Society is still operating.

So why hasn't something like this developed in the north? Some kind of cross community fraternity in which republicanism and loyalism would be banned and focus on the simple fact of the 2 communities getting to be friendly without all the baggage on a large scale as it works on a small scale in daily life with most people.

Believe it or not Belfast, when I was a kid in the fifties and sixties growing up in a mixed neighborhood, the people on our streets got along very well. It was thirty years of grief that changed it all.

I know Jemee thats why I think if it was done before, it could again if properly fostered and encouraged.

However my question to you is would protestants be able to accept it now that they don't control all levels of society?

[Jemee Hope]

In 1877, a breakthrough in Irish Canadian Protestant-Catholic relations occurred in London, Ontario. This was the founding of the Irish Benevolent Society, a brotherhood of Irishmen and women of both Catholic and Protestant faiths. The society promoted Irish Canadian culture, but it was forbidden for members to speak of Irish politics when meeting. This companionship of Irish people of all faiths quickly tore down the walls of sectarianism in Ontario. Today, the Society is still operating.

So why hasn't something like this developed in the north? Some kind of cross community fraternity in which republicanism and loyalism would be banned and focus on the simple fact of the 2 communities getting to be friendly without all the baggage on a large scale as it works on a small scale in daily life with most people.

Believe it or not Belfast, when I was a kid in the fifties and sixties growing up in a mixed neighborhood, the people on our streets got along very well. It was thirty years of grief that changed it all.

I know Jemee thats why I think if it was done before, it could again if properly fostered and encouraged.

However my question to you is would protestants be able to accept it now that they don't control all levels of society?

Of course there will always be people on both sides that will want to nurse their grievances, but on the whole most people just want to get on with their lives. I think the big thing is to put our history behind us and just get on with it. Who knows what the future will hold.