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. Today we speak to Matt O’Neill. You can follow him on Twitter @_MGONeill.

 

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

I am energetic, adore film and am a proud dyslexic! Currently I’m a PhD Student from Ballymoney who looks at Borders and Cyberspace within the European Union. I came to Northern Slant through my good friend Jamie, who is the Deputy Editor. We both started our PhDs together and over the years he talked about Northern Slant and the importance of having a dialogue. I decided to get involved as I feel I can contribute ideas on what life is like in Northern Ireland, what it means to be from here and to add a perspective that is sometimes left on the fringes.


2. Describe Northern Ireland in 5 words.

Complex, Disheartening, Uplifting, Empathetic, Home.

 

 

3. What makes you proud to be here?

The people and our resilience. We are often talked about how kind and funny we are, and of course quick to disagree. But yet we still move forward not just for ourselves but for everyone around us.

 

4. Are you hopeful for the future?

Always! I am fortunate to teach as an assistant at Queen’s and each year my students make me more hopeful for the future. Especially with how much they care for their local communities, the challenges they face and seeing how they put their education into practice. I think we sometimes get caught up in the past, or how we struggle with moving forward in the present, and don’t talk enough about our youth and the future. I believe our future is bright, because the youth believe it too.

 

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

I would have it that every school be integrated. I went to an integrated school growing up and am apart of Integrated AlumNI. It is a cause that is very important to me and something which seems to of been sidelined with issues of devolution, RHI, Brexit, the Border, and issues surrounding the past. We simply do not talk enough about education and this needs to change. Our young people really are our greatest teachers.

 

5. Favourite NI celebrity?

Michael Smiley! What is not to love!  He is able to channel our sense of humour to an international audience which I feel is no easy task. I really love his series Something to Ride Home About and of course his character in Spaced, ‘Tyres’.

 

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

Anyone who knows me will probably expect me to say Hillary Clinton, George Mitchell, Gordon Brown or Monica McWilliams, but after some reflection I would have to say out of all my political heroes it would have to be Mo Mowlam. I read her biography Momentum when I was a teenager it sparked my interest in politics here and the Labour Party, which I would join later on in life. I was upset and saddened that we did not do more to celebrate her during this 20th year of the Good Friday Agreement. I think now more than ever we need more compassion and sensitivity in politics and of course straight talking, which she encompassed.

 

8. Favourite place to bring a visitor?

My Family Home in Ballymoney! I always bring visitors here so they can be part of the family and be taken cared of. With a treat to a North Coast tour: starting with my Grandmother pancakes, we would visit the Dark Hedges which are just down the road from our home, visit the Dunluce Castle, the Bushmills Distillery and, of course, the breathtaking Giant’s Causeway. I would also add one of the best kept secrets: Ballintoy Harbour for scones and tea!

 

9. Potato bread or soda bread?

Potato Bread. Not even a hesitation.

 

10. Snow Patrol or Van Morrison?

This really should not even be a question. Van Morrison!

 

You can listen to Matt’s interview with Senator George Mitchell here.

Also published on Medium.