Cú Chulainn - Ulster’s Hero

The warrior who crossed the divide

This is just an observational post and an attempt to cut through all the divisive noise. I’m obviously biased towards one side, however this is a time for pensive and reflective objectivity and not reactionary reflex action programmed by muscle memory, which I believe helps fuel the hatred and division.

I’m trying to view events yesterday through an impartial prism, temporarily parking my loyalties to one side. These are two separate murals from republicans and loyalists up north. Look at who they both identify with. The mythical Irish warrior Cuchulainn.

They will never, ever highlight the things that unite people. What church and state has divided, mythology and folklore can bring commonality to. They would rather either side identified with Gerry Adams or Ian Paisley.

What if and this is a mad notion. People on both sides of the divide were to focus all their energy on the Cuchulainn archetype and make him the centrepiece of Ireland’s future.

I’m not dismissing everything that’s happened in years gone by, there is so much suffering to undo, but rightly or wrongly it occurred on both sides. The fact I’m a nationalist doesn’t mean I value the life of a unionist child any less.

The potential to repair old wounds will only come through the things we have common ground on. History is painful and I am well aware there is still hatred and extremism, but what do these two images prove? They prove Joseph Campbell was on to something.

The only true history that’s real and incorruptible is myth, because it speaks directly to the human soul. If there were ever to be a United Ireland I think there is already a natural archetype that would be acceptable to both sides. They are telling us who it is through the collective subconscious.

His name is Cuchulainn!