Northern Protestants wary of using Irish symbols in united Ireland – Irish Times

How do Protestants in Northern Ireland feel about symbols that are generally considered Irish? And what would they think about the use of such symbols if Ireland were united?

In the ARINS/Irish Times survey, all respondents were presented with the same image of a shamrock. Half of the randomly selected respondents described the relationship between Ireland and the Shamrock as follows: “Shamrocks are strongly associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.”

The other half of the randomly selected respondents explained the shamrock’s common association with Ireland and the United Kingdom: “The shamrock is the national symbol of Ireland and is also used as the emblem of the British Army’s Irish Regiment.”

Both statements are true, but may be expected to provoke different reactions.

Northern Protestants’ views on shamrocks are relatively moderate. On a negative to positive scale from 1 to 7, they are placed somewhat favorably, with the average score on the scale being slightly less than 5. There is no difference in the scores of Protestants in the “Irish explanation” and “common explanation” groups.

In the case of unification, northern Protestants are neither against nor in favor of embossed shamrock images on euro coins. They score just above 3 on a scale of against (1) to favor (5). Again, their views are also very fixed. Whether the Irish shamrock heritage is described or the shared shamrock heritage is described, the opinion is the same.

[ North and South: aiming to provide independent and unbiased information ]

I also paid attention to the Irish flag. All respondents were shown the same image of the national flag. A random half of respondents described Ireland’s flag tradition as follows: “Since Ireland’s founding, the national flag has been the republican tricolor. It famously flew during the Easter Rising of 1916 and during the Irish War of Independence against British rule.”

Another random half of respondents had different but equally accurate descriptions of the flag’s common traditions. “The flag was designed to represent the island’s two main political traditions. The white in the center represents the lasting peace between the ‘orange’ and the ‘green’. ”

Northern Protestants have more hardline views on the Irish flag than on the shamrock. They generally tend to be somewhat negative. It’s just under 3 on a scale of minus (1) to plus (7). And there was no difference between the two groups who received different explanations about the flag.

Respondents were also asked on a scale of 1 to 7 whether they would like to keep the tricolor (1) or replace it (7) if Ireland were united. Northern Protestants are very hostile to upholding the flag, with an average score of about 6 on a scale of 1 to 7. Regarding this question, the opinions expressed seemed slightly less hostile when the common heritage of the flag (5.8) was explained rather than simply Irish heritage (6.1), but the difference was not statistically significant.

Investigating this question further, we found that the effects of the experiment varied by type of Northern Protestant respondent.

Another question in our survey allows us to differentiate between “hardcore” and “moderate” trade union members. The question presented respondents with eight policy priorities, one of which was “keeping Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom” and others including health, the economy and the environment. Respondents are asked to indicate their personal priorities and can select up to four.

[ Voters in Republic remain hostile to Commonwealth, poll finds ]

Very stalwart unionists, who have chosen ‘keeping Northern Ireland in the UK’ as one of their top priorities, are very keen to replace the tricolor in the event of reunification, with a 6.4 on a scale of 1 to 7. It shows. And the scores were the same in the two experimental groups.

In contrast, more moderate trade unionists did not indicate that Remaining in the UK was a top priority, but were sensitive to how the Irish flag was represented. their hostility to keeping the flag when presented with the flag’s desire to reflect a common heritage (5.2 on the scale) compared to when Ireland’s revolutionary heritage was explained (5.8 on the scale) was significantly lower.

These findings pose interesting challenges for supporters of Irish unity. Some symbols, such as the shamrock, provoke relatively mild but inflexible reactions from northern Protestants. Other symbols, such as the tricolor, evoke a more hostile reaction, but for at least some moderate Protestants, this reaction is tempered when the symbol’s common heritage is emphasized.

ARINS/Irish Times data from last year suggested changing the tricolor would upset southerners and do little to appease the sentiments of hardline trade unionists.

Supporters of Irish unity who want to reduce hostility among flexible trade unionists should emphasize the common heritage of the flag, but should not expect a warm embrace.

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