Want to find out more about the Northern Slant team? Every week 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 Lisa Claire Whitten. You can follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaClaireWhit1.

 

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

Essentially, I’m a geek. I love to learn and I’m not fussy about the subject, if I don’t know it yet – I’ll probably want to. That said, I do particularly enjoy learning about all things political, so my current position as a PhD student of Politics at Queen’s University Belfast suits me pretty well.

I’m also a Belfast native and I’ve been interested in/frustrated by/passionate about Northern Irish politics for most of my adult life. So, when I heard the vision of Northern Slant I was an immediate fan. A collective inviting positive and reflective contributions to our political discourse, was one I wanted to be part of.

 

2. Describe Northern Ireland in five words.

Home: a glorious place apart.

 

 3. What makes you proud to be here?

When we walk past each other, we still say “hi”. When we take the bus, we thank the driver. When the temperature gauge reaches 20 degrees C, we all still delight in the miracle of Northern Irish sunshine.

It also makes me proud to see how consistently the old maxim “everyone loves the Irish” holds true. For such a small place with a messy history, I think it speaks of the resilience and beauty of the people of this island that we are warmly welcomed all across the world.

 

4. Are you hopeful for the future?

For sure! Despite all of our ‘legacy issues’ and the imminent brokenness of our political situation, I still believe this place has so much to give. I spend quite a lot of time thinking about the future of Northern Ireland, particularly in light of “Brexit” and all its implications. Regardless of what you think about it, the UK’s exit from the EU has catalysed fresh debate about what Northern Ireland is, and therefore what it will be.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think we have a lot of issues many of which really concern me, but I also think in many ways, Northern Ireland is still becoming, and I find that exciting.

 

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

Mmmm, warmer summers and snowier winters – that’d be lovely.

6. Favourite NI celebrity?

Seamus Heaney. Notwithstanding the remarkable number of poets and authors with Northern Irish roots, I think Heaney surpassed them all in his ability to simultaneously articulate the glory and the horror that exists in Northern Ireland’s short history.

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

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. I was there when he addressed the House of Commons and House of Lords in the Royal Gallery of Westminster. He was the first Irish President to be invited to do so and he spoke with such grace and wisdom, while acknowledging the difficult history of Ireland and Britain he set out a hope-filled vision for a shared future; I’m still inspired.

 

8. Favourite Place to Bring a Visitor?

It’s a tough choice. I’m very partial to a St George’s Market trip but my all-time favourite spot to bring visitors is probably the North Coast – a walk to the end of the pier on Portstewart Strand then back for hot coffee.

 

9. Potato bread or Soda bread?

The smell of fresh baked soda bread on a lazy Saturday… I’m sold.

 

10. Snow Patrol or Van Morrison?

Van the Man. He lived next door to my granny and grandpa, so I’m a little bias.

Also published on Medium.