Demoralised prods: summary

Richard Kelly visited NI recently to speak to a number of largely pro-agreement figures in NI.

He begins by suggesting that David Trimble did not capitalise on the advantages of the Belfast Agreement from the beginning, instead what began as a victory has come to be seen by many Unionists as a defeat. Ervine suggests that long term promises don't satisfy people under various short term pressures, particularly in interface areas. Again with Ervine he identifies education as a key problem, suggesting that economic change has left the protestant working class high and dry.

In his final significant point, he talks to clergyman John Dunlop, who suggests that is not in the nature of protestant society to encourage its working class to work together for common ends.