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The Queen's Death Looks Different From Belfast Rachel Connolly: There was a boy at my school in Belfast who used to sing a Protestant song on St Patrick's Day every year. I don't remember all the lines, but the chorus went something like: "You can celebrate St Patrick's Day, you can dye the river green, but when the day is over you're still governed by the Queen." I don't remember this song because it was unusual or transgressive – it was just catchy. This boy certainly wasn't an outlier, a lot of us did things like this; both those from the Catholic community, like me, and those from the Protestant one, like this boy. Northern Ireland was, and is, a deeply sectarian, post-conflict society. I don't think you can blame teenagers in that context for doing things that are stupid or a bit offensive – for not knowing any better, essentially.  The song is a fairly innocuous (and dare I say camp) example of the kind of cultural signifier I associated with the royal family when I was growing up. To me, it was inextricably linked with Northern Irish Protestantism and unionism, in both its moderate and extreme forms. This was a world of curbstones painted red, white and blue; 12 July bonfires; golf (yes, the sport); Orange Order marches; Ulster rugby; graffiti that says things like 'Kill All Taigs'; the Christmas figurines a good friend of mine had on her family tree that said 'Ulster Says Snow' and 'Snow Surrender'; my own school, which was a Protestant grammar school; stories from family members about terrible things the British army did to poor Catholic communities during the Troubles; slogans like 'Stand Up For The Ulsterman' and 'For God And Ulster'; some of my closest friends; colonialism; Disneyland Florida (which my mum insists is Protestant); and the Democratic Unionist party – in particular, Ian Paisley with his famous refrain: "Never, ever, ever surrender!"  This list could be a lot longer. But you know what I mean. Or you don't, because you didn't grow up with it, and however well I try to explain it these symbols will be meaningful for me in a way they never will be to you. It's like trying to represent a four-dimensional shape: no construction of lines and intersecting planes can truly account for the difference in conceptual environments. This list could be ten thousand words, a documentary, or a novel. It still wouldn't reflect a culture, with all its nuances, sentimentality and weirdness. CONTINUE READING ➡︎ Picks of the week... REPORT Anti-Monarchy Protesters Keep Getting Arrested by Simon Childs Campaigners say protests at the coronation of King Charles III will go ahead, despite the risk of arrest. Read more... ANALYSIS The Royals Are at the Heart of British Capitalism by Laura Clancy Are the royals an enthralling soap opera, or an aristocratic vestige of a bygone era? Neither, argues Laura Clancy – the royal Firm is at the heart of British capitalism. Read more... READ MORE ON NOVARAMEDIA.COM ➡︎ No billionaires. No adverts. No paywall. This kind of original reporting is only possible because we don't have to answer to billionaire funders. We don't cover stories with the aim of skewing politics in their favour. We don't answer to multi-million pound advertising partnerships who would dictate the tone of our reporting. All we have is a supporter base who believe in what we do, and allow us to report the truth. Setting up a regular monthly donation is the best way to help us sustain our work, grow our output, and expand our reach. Support us with a monthly donation from just £1 per month to help us to plan our future, and be more resilient in the media space.  Alternatively, you can support us with a one-off donation. We know times are really tough, so any support you give does not go unnoticed. Thanks so much – we couldn't do this without you. Copyright © 2022 Thousand Hands Ltd. All rights reserved. Thousand Hands Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales #11245029. Its registered address is 10 Bridge Street, Christchurch, BH23 1EF. Novara Media is a trading name of Thousand Hands Ltd and, as such, the individual shall have no personal liability arising out of such communication, and liability or obligation rests solely with Novara Media. Opinions or advice contained in this email are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the relevant terms of business and are not necessarily agreed or authorised by Thousand Hands Ltd. We have taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that no viruses are transmitted from Novara Media to any third party. Novara Media accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage resulting directly or indirectly from the use of this email or the contents. Novara Media is regulated by IMPRESS, the independent press regulator.

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