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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Tony Blair should be hailed, not attacked in Ireland

Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2010 at 11:54 PM

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You would think the Irish would be daily taking to the street to vent their anger at political leaders there, given all that has gone wrong.

Strangely, there is hardly a peep.

However, when it came to Tony Blair's visit to Dublin to launch his book, the protestati showed up in large numbers to make their mark.

Among them according to The Guardian newspaper were supporters of dissident IRA groups and Iraq war protestors.

They won world headlines throwing eggs and shoes and insults at Blair but in the process mocked a man who has done so much for Ireland.

The fact that there is peace in Northern Ireland would never have happened without Tony Blair.

Like no other British Prime Minster since Gladstone he made peace in Ireland a top priority and stood by his peace partners through thick and thin.

There are scores, maybe hundreds walking around alive today in Northern Ireland because of the work of Tony Blair and a handful of others.

His reward it seems is to be attacked in Dublin, especially by elements of the dissidents who would much rather the killings were continued as they chase their Utopian dream of driving Protestants and British out of Northern Ireland.

In his book Blair writes about how he overcame his prejudices and became a partner for peace with Sinn Fein and fast friends with Sinn Fein leaders Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams.

He also issued an eloquent apology for the Famine.

That was an amazing accomplishment for a British leader, one that marks him down in the history books for ever.

His reward yesterday was a back of the hand from many of the same people who want no peace in Ireland.

They do not speak for the Irish I am certain, and they disgrace our name with their antics.

Tony Blair should be made very welcome wherever green is worn.

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15 - 55 | See all comments

Sparklet | Sep 18, 2010, 01:41 PM EDT

Hectorfromwherever - Blair might be a war criminal, but lets not forget the nation that took him there. I cant stand Blair as it happens, but I object to your puerile racism even more.

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mcginleynj | Sep 09, 2010, 01:19 PM EDT

I agree he should be appreciated! He did a wonderful job under tough conditions.

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CarolineRyan | Sep 09, 2010, 10:03 AM EDT

I have to agree that while far from perfect - his support for the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, case in point - Tony Blair did Ireland a great service via his hard work during the peace process. Appointing Mo Mowlam as N. Ireland Secretary of State was itself sheer genius, even if he didn't realize it at the time. The North owes him much of its present stability, shaky though that can be at times. And the South owes him at least its respect. - Caroline Oceana Ryan, author AN OLD CASTLE STANDING ON A FORD: One Yank's Life in an Almost Peaceful Belfast (Eloquent Books)

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hectorfromTG4 | Sep 09, 2010, 01:56 AM EDT

O Dowd you're a west brit scumbag!

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hectorfromTG4 | Sep 09, 2010, 01:50 AM EDT

Blair is a war criminal,but all you west brits do is kiss his limey arse!.

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maloney | Sep 08, 2010, 09:56 PM EDT

Heil obama Heil akmadinijad

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ironbed | Sep 08, 2010, 02:51 PM EDT

While Tony Blair did bang a few heads together, probably with Bill Clinton peeping over his shoulder, we must also remember that Blair was only one of the hundreds of former British Prime Minsters who did absolutley nothing for Ireland except to worsen the lot of the Irish. Yes applaud Blair but let's keep our historical relationship with Britain in perspective and let's keep it real.

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BrendanPKeane | Sep 08, 2010, 01:23 PM EDT

And these wonderful British government "apologies" for the famine and Bloody Sunday deserve little more than a nod. They need not be hailed, especially coming after decades and decades of denials.

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BrendanPKeane | Sep 08, 2010, 01:21 PM EDT

A common tactic to defame anti-war protestors is to lump them in with a reprehensible group such as the continuity IRA or communists. Protesting a man that sold an empire-building war on proven lies is good citizenship. To be told we should "hail" Blair is just shocking. Heil Blair.

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CaptainTom | Sep 07, 2010, 08:42 PM EDT

I agree that when it comes to the peace that has finally come to the North, Tony Blair should be given a great deal of the credit.

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IrishTierney | Sep 07, 2010, 06:22 PM EDT

All these protestors managed to do is give the good people of Ireland a black eye around the world. They should be ashamed of themselves. Hooligans is all they are.

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Keynyata | Sep 07, 2010, 04:07 PM EDT

Tony Blair never used the word "sorry" or "apologise" regarding the Famine,Niall. Read that sppech again and you will see there are no words other than 'understanding' which could be taken up (wrongly) as an apology.I love peace and harmony with my british neighbours - wonderful people - but the peast we can do is to get the statements of the likes of Blair verbatim. And he is not going to try to promote his lies in London at all now.He is afraid of the truth and of his own people.His filthy chickens of bombs and bluster have come home to haunt him.Perhaps there is some justice,after all.

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mayoman | Sep 07, 2010, 08:22 AM EDT

I agree with you Niall; Blair should be acknowledged for his contributions in bringing peace to Northern Ireland. However, his support of, and participation in Bush's illegal and imperialistic invasion of Iraq was reprehensible, and should be vigorously condemned. There maybe scores of people walking the streets of Belfast today that may not be doing so had Mr. Blair not intervened on the side of sanity and peace. But how many scores of people do not now walk the streets Baghdad and of Basra because of the Anglo-American invasion? A great many ordinary Iraqis gave up the ghost as a result of Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair's misguided and lethal actions. We must not forget that.

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Ajreaper | Sep 06, 2010, 10:57 PM EDT

I find it amazing how many people wish to live in the past- a past they are not and were not eber a part of. I know Blair was not alive when Ireland was divided nor were any of you, I would guess, and most certainly if there was to be peace in NI then the British leadership would have to play a role in helping to bring that about. Many of you would rather "be right" then have peace. Isn't peace enough? Need every English leader of the 20th century grovel and beg at your feet for the crimes of those long dead? Give it a rest and live in the present.

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hancock | Sep 06, 2010, 10:33 PM EDT

Europe is a dive.

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