Want to find out more about the Northern Slant team? Every so often we put 10 questions to our community of contributors – about them, their interests and hopes for Northern Ireland’s future. This week’s interviewee is Callum McNeill. You can follow Callum on Twitter @CallumMcNeill.

 

1. Tell us about yourself, and why you got involved with Northern Slant.

One of my friends once described me as being “politically focused” and I must agree with them as I believe that it is important for everyone to have a clearer understanding of current affairs and think about how we could challenge what is going on. As someone who is not from Northern Ireland, you might ask: “What would someone from outside Northern Ireland be interested this place?” Well for one thing I have a very strong personal connection to the island of Ireland – my ancestors are from County Galway and County Wexford. More broadly, my research interests cover political violence and nationalism, both of which have been closely associated with Northern Ireland’s recent political history. This led me to focus on Northern Ireland as a case study in my recent Master’s thesis on nationalism. My contributions to Northern Slant lend an outsider’s viewpoint of a place with such a complicated social and political history.

 

2. Describe Northern Ireland in 5 words.

Welcoming, (politically) dysfunctional, historical, diverse, hopeful.

 

3. What makes you proud of Northern Ireland?

Although I am not a native of Northern Ireland, one thing that does makes me proud is that although it has had a divided and violent past, it has evolved into a place that is now much more focused on its future. I have been proud to research and write about Northern Ireland, and am grateful for the chance to regularly contribute to the forward-looking narrative that is being established by organisations such as Northern Slant, a platform for different opinions on issues and offering insights from Northern Ireland to a wider audience.

 

4. Are you hopeful for the future?

I feel that the atmosphere in Northern Ireland has given me a glimmer of hope for the future. Visiting Belfast and Derry/Londonderry shows how the past is still a part of modern life, but they are cities that are being transformed. Northern Ireland is becoming a place on the world stage through being the location of major TV series such as Game of Thrones. This shows the progress that can be made with increased hope and continued growth of cooperation through dialogue. And that’s why it’s so important to move beyond the current political stalemate holding Northern Ireland to ransom.

 

5. If you could change one thing about Northern Ireland, what would it be?

Well that would be quite simple the ongoing political situation, as it is the right for the people of Northern Ireland to be governed by a directly elected body from Northern Ireland.

 

6. Favourite Northern Ireland celebrity?

Liam Neeson. In my opinion he has to be one of the greatest actors who have come from Northern Ireland. His performance in the ‘Taken’ movie series is one the most effective, and has an amazing narrative to it.

 

7. Politician you most admire, from outside Northern Ireland?

It would have to be the 35th US President, John F. Kennedy. He’s my political idol due to his youthful optimism and vision for the future. He has continued to inspire future generations on political and social issues many decades later. His words and leadership are still relevant in the 21stcentury.

 

8. Favourite place to bring a visitor?

My favourite place in Northern Ireland is the area around Queen’s University Belfast. Especially with its Gothic-inspired architecture and the thought-provoking presence of the Lanyon Building, it feels as though you are entering somewhere magical and special – especially in spring or the summer, with the majestic Botanic Gardens not far from it.

 

9. Potato bread or soda bread?

With the memories of homemade versions of it, for me it’s soda bread, simply one of the greatest culinary creations to have come out of the island of Ireland.

 

10. Snow Patrol or Van Morrison?

Snow Patrol all the way. In particular, their ‘A Hundred Million Suns’ album was simply a musical masterpiece.