Vercingetorix in Baile Átha Cliath

When Caesar defeated the leader of the rising in Gaul, Vercingetorix, he paraded him through the streets of Rome as part of his tribute before finally executing him. Thankfully (and hopefully for ever), execution is a thing of the past in Irish politics – though parading is something that is still done. Witness then Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, attending for the first time the Republic's Easter Rising commemoration in Dublin yesterday. McGuinness was not paraded through the streets but the message was much the same – an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the all-conquering Caesar of Drumcondra, had brought a former leader of the Provisional IRA to pay tribute to the real Óglaigh na hÉireann, aka, the Defence Forces, not in chains but in front of cameras. (I wonder what thoughts went through McGuinness’s head as he watched the real Army march along O’Connell Street?)

Whatever the future may hold for Ahern, on this issue he was certainly right. He reclaimed the Spirit of 1916 for mainstream opinion and, not for the first time, Fianna Fáil has succeeded in promoting its narrative of Irish history above all others. For better or worse, the people of the Republic mark the beginning of the Irish state in the fighting in the GPO. One can argue the why, what and who caused the Rising – and we will no doubt for many a long year – but most people in the Republic are satisfied to accept the bona fides of the leaders of the Rising, mark the day and then get on with their lives and the worries of paying bills.

Whither then Irish nationalism? (You might as well ask whither the wind.) Gerry Adams claimed over the weekend that Irish unification was a work in progress – a work he has stated before he hopes to be completed by 2016. Not a chance, is the honest assessment of that. Adams still delights in the metaphysics of nationhood, looking into his de Valerian heart and pronouncing on its moods. It is easy nonsense to spout and we have had more than enough of it over the last 40 years.

Given the huge problems that beset West Belfast – and which have been rehearsed endlessly over the last week – Adams would be far better taking on and refusing to deviate from, ahem, the social democratic programme and improving the lives of his constituents with sustainable employment and proper houses. If Adams wants to offer voters hope, let him offer the hope of a good job, a warm home and safe streets. West Belfast is virtually a one-party state and it says much about him and his party that all of those three options are beyond them.

“You can’t eat a flag,” a wise man once said. And you can’t. A flag may keep you warm when times are bad. It may provide you with a comfort blanket but, ultimately, you can’t eat it. The tricolour flew over O’Connell Street and people in Derry, West Belfast and, yes, even Dublin, face an uncertain economic future. The same flag flies over many northern nationalist working-class areas and those people still face an uncertain economic future. Today will mark a Marching Season commemorating a battle in 1690. The flag flown during that season – season mark you – will be red, white and blue. And people in Derry, East Belfast and yes, even Ballymena, will face an uncertain economic future.

Pride is no bad thing – as long as it is moderated by common sense. Nationalists are proud of the tricolour; unionists of the Union flag. Fine. And people in the North, the North of Ireland, the Six Counties, Northern Ireland and Ulster still face an uncertain economic future. I don’t want to burn flags, disrespect flags, hang them from lamp-posts, run them up flag poles and salute them and I certainly don’t want to eat them. Let us have no more metaphysics from politicians Here; no more abstract musings on the nation. Give us a job. Give my children a job. And homes. And safe streets. And opportunity…