They have come and gone, yet they kind of still remain. The visits of the Queen and President Obama have generated nearly as much interest since they have left. Predictably, the core essence of this interest is justification. The silent partner in the visits was, of course, the cost. We were directed, rightly so, to embrace the historical significance and symbolism associated with both events – engage and reap the rewards. So what were the visits all about?
Well, lets distinguish and decipher both and return to their collective currency at the end.
1) Queen’s visit:
A) The Northern Ireland Hypothesis
The visit was seen as the public culmination of the Good Friday Agreement. The reconciliation of the past within the present directing a brighter future – all relatively abstract/loose connotations unless systematically engaged and defined. Historic, symbolic, cohesion, partnership, etc. Obviously, there is something to this discourse.The Queen’s itinerary was instructive in this regard, the Garden of Remembrance, Islandbridge, Croke Park, and the State Dinner. Throughout, there was a conscious if limited Northern Irish presence. Furthermore, the Anglo-Irish relationship remains a fundamental cog in the wheel of peace in Northern Ireland. However, do not lose sight that the politics of peace takes place in front of and away from the cameras, and rightly so. Also, the Anglo-Irish relationship is only part of the jigsaw. Anybody who defines the visit singularly within a Northern Ireland framework is incorrect as it would be limited and prescribe an overly determining role for the North in the Anglo-Irish relationship. Again, do not lose sight of the fact that the visit remained within the Republic of Ireland – quite simply if it was about Northern Ireland then there would have been a much more visible presence for the region in the visit. It was important, but not the full story.
B) Economics
Both the U.K. and Irish economies are struggling, and they are strategic partners in their relative recovery. The tourism mantra adopted by many in the aftermath of the Queen’s visit acutely points to this, the defining debate centred on a pint of Guinness. In a much more forceful representation of the fact, the arrival of David Cameron and the constant presence of William Hague almost hand in hand with Eamon Gilmore during the visit point to the fact that economics was core to the event. The rhetoric centralised such approaches,normalisation and partnership again to the fore. In truth, this represents a mature and aware political elite in Ireland and they must be given credit for this.
2) Obama
A) The Heritage Hypothesis
This viewpoint sees his visit as one of reaffirming the natural bonds between Ireland and the United States. Again, a historically contextualised visit shaping a progressive future. Within 10- 12 hours, the U.S. President had travelled back generations in Moneygall, endulged in a quick pint of the black stuff, and orated upon a remarkably bright future for the nation. This hypothesis is quite easily sustained given the short nature of the trip.
B) The Cynic
Votes, it is all about votes. Obama had been suffered significantly in the polls pre-Osama bin Laden’s demise. Some have argued that the visit was strategically placed in light of an upcoming presidential election. Quite simply, his speech in College Green included an astute duality. It spoke to both those standing in front of him but also to ethnicity across America. It was brilliant, make no mistake about it. Again, arguably a combination of both interpretations come close to understanding the visit.
So what has come in the blog post thus far is nothing spectacular – general knowledge even. But,
3) The Hangover Hypothesis
The exact motivations for the visits and their contests have one simple constant, the Irish angle. The hangover has crept back, but like most hangovers it has been self-induced. The media is littered with uplifting tales of tourism booms ahead, both unwise and misleading calculations given the short time from the visits – the justification theme. The social and political reality of the visits is that they have afforded Ireland a limited portion of international capital. They were not without their failings, Kenny’s speech was pure plagiarism (his belief that suggestive acknowledgement is enough is actually not enough) and Sinn Fein missed a good opportunity to further relationships in the North (particularly enhanced when a SF lord mayor later shook hands with the Queen on her visit). It is a limited capital for Ireland, and it needs to be well spent. In the words of the Irish Independent’s Maurice Hayes: Let’s get back to balancing the books now the VIP circus is over.
Here’s the simple punchline, the visits were to do with Ireland. The themes/events/ideas above are all part of the Irish story. You can look at it from many different angles, but the visits were all about Ireland. The key now is to strategically use the capital, form lasting alliances (in the pursuit of peace and recovery), realign international relations, and most importantly – write a new chapter in the Irish story. Quite simple, you could say.
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