Northern Ireland

Powell’s presumptions - On This Day in 1974

Each new expression contains contempt for things Irish

Former Conservative cabinet minister Enoch Powell laughing with his wife Pamela (wearing rosette) and supporters during his election campaign as an United Ulster Unionist candidate for South Down
Former Conservative cabinet minister Enoch Powell with his wife Pamela (wearing rosette) during his election campaign as an United Ulster Unionist candidate for South Down (PA/PA)
By Cormac Moore
October 8 1974

Although intent only on returning to Westminster via South Down, Mr Enoch Powell does not hesitate to adopt an opinionated attitude on Irish affairs and to present one point of view as if no other one is acceptable.

He told listeners on RTE’s This Week programme that the aspiration of the Nationalist minority in the North “has to die” because it wasn’t possible for the same territory to belong to two nations and there had to be total victory for the majority. “There is no possibility of the sharing of power between those who want opposite things from the exercise of that power”.

These are not the first, nor the last, presumptions that Mr Powell will make before polling day. Each new expression contains contempt for things Irish.

Irishmen are Irishmen without the prefixes to distinguish the areas in which they live and which Partition so banefully sought to establish as positive differences. The majority of the people of this island have long since settled for the common name of Irishmen.

Mr Powell had better recognise that the Unionist myth that “Ulster is British” no longer is believed and does not even make good electioneering rhetoric. The Unionist and Protestant has, of course, a place in the island of Ireland, if he wants to accept it; but it would be one of equality with the rest of the Irishmen who at the moment go to make up the free portion of our country.

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In that united country there will be no room for Unionist self-assertion and the sort of arrogance now being displayed by an Englishman about Irishmen.

Irish News editorial condemning Enoch Powell’s remarks that nationalists’ aspirations for a united Ireland should die.
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Down first to win All Ireland [Camogie] minor title

Down 3-0, Cork 0-1

Cork had a two fold disappointment in Croke Park on Sunday when they lost the senior crown to Kilkenny (3-3 to 1-5) and the first ever minor title went to Down, who defeated Cork by eight points.

Down have the distinction of having won the first minor and junior titles – the juniors did it in ‘68!

The Down girls were confident and sure. They had a thrustful attack and a very sound defence in contrast to the opposition.

Having won the first junior camogie championship in 1968, Down were the first minor winners (U-16 at the time) too, in 1974, the same year Ladies Gaelic Football had its first All-Ireland senior championship.