WIP

Desmond Loy and SDLP Clr. Seamus Doyle

 

 

1.) What were you doing when you were my age?

 

-          Clr. Doyle states that at the age of 21 he was working on a building site in Antrim and commuted to his work every day. He lived in Co. Down and was also partaking in a course in Building Construction. He was not active in politics at the time but was interested in his local SDLP branch.

 

2.) How did you get where you are today?

 

-          Clr. Doyle states that his involvement in his local political branch lead him to his current position of Councillor which he has held successfully for over 20 years. He claims that the persuasions and enthusiasm of his local branch catalysed his ascendency in local politics.

 

3.) Who was the most influential person in your life and why?

 

-          Clr. Doyle states that he believes John Hume to have been the greatest influence on his life. Clr. Doyle speaks with great reverence of the policies and efforts of John Hume in attaining a more equal society; one man one vote, and fair play in housing.

 

4.) What do you most value in your life?

 

-          Clr. Doyle does not hesitate to provide and answer; health. He regales Desmond Loy of his fight with bowel cancer for two years, including surgery and extensive chemotherapy.  

 

5.) What would your advice be for a young university graduate from Northern Ireland?

 

-          Clr. Doyle affirms that Nothern Ireland is a fantastic place to live and bring up a family. He says that he would advise current university graduates to stay and avail of increasing opportunities and apply themselves to local companies to increase prosperity. Clr. Doyle speaks of the need to focus and work hard.

 

6.) Do feel that sectarianism and societal secularisation affected your career in politics?

 

-          Clr. Doyle states that he feels sectarianism was a major problem for him and his generation of people. He tells anecdotes involving the deaths of catholic men on building sites in Lisburn, and his attempts to work in the area being met with forceful requests to leave. He informs Desmond Loy that his house is fitted with bullet proof windows, and his car is alarmed to recognise bombs and incendiary devices. He states that of the three original councillors in the area he is the only one to have escaped without being subjected o a bombing.

 

7.) Do you feel there is significant apathy in Northern Ireland towards politics because of the continued “false dawns” in the peace process?

 

-          Clr. Doyle assures Desmond Loy that the 72% turn out in the local area is extremely high when contextualised with the much lower figures in English districts; some falling as low as 15%. He states the younger generations may be disinterested, and that he feels this is unfair and narrow minded. Clr. Doyle feels that the older men and women can see tangible, visible and significant changes in their surroundings and environments and this should always been kept in context when criticising Northern Irish politics.   

 

8.) Do you believe that religious affiliations, belief and faith still affect politics in Northern Ireland?

 

-          Clr. Doyle regrettably states that he feels that religious tensions are leveraged significantly by certain parties who build policies based on eliciting votes from religious quotas as opposed to exciting and interesting the electorate with good policy.

 

9.) Hypothetically, if I was to be completely cynical about politics in Northern Ireland, what would you say to encourage me to vote in the upcoming elections?

 

-          Clr. Doyles states that current world conflicts and suffering can often be traced to the significant deficiencies in the country’s political systems. He states that we should be grateful and interested in this proud democracy and no person of voting age should forget the importance of democracy in world order.

 

10.) Who do you most admire in modern politics and why?

 

-          Clr. Doyle states that the admiration he holds for John Hume has transcended the years and he still feels that the visionary work of this man profoundly affected himself, those of nationalist persuasion, and society as a whole in Northern Ireland.