McElroy or Mickelson? 
Interview with Mr Séamus Mallon, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland 1999-2001
By: Marty Leer
It was a great privilege to interview Mr Séamus Mallon, former Deputy First Minister. As I sat waiting in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry, in strolled the ageing Mr Mallon only to be greeted by a number of those in the lobby. His charisma and ‘down to earth’ nature are very apparent, although after all these years there is still something of a ‘celebrity’ about this man as he makes his way through the lobby shaking hands with his many fans.
He chats openly about his busy day of interviews and I feel fortunate that he has taken a break from his schedules with UTV to give this interview! He enquires about the Washington Ireland Program – *frantically searching for the information booklet!*. He seems impressed when I tell him of the Public Service component of the Program; doing mine with the SDLP was a great starting point for the conversation.
What were you doing when you were my age?
Séamus asks my age, slouches back in his chair and thinks. “I was involved in drama, working as a producer. I was playing a bit of football, and of course working as a teacher.”
How did you get to where you are today?
“Circumstances” “Also hard work and the ability to recognise what had to be done at a particularly difficult time.”
Who was (or is) the most influential person in your life and why?
Mahatma Ghandi. “His firm conviction about peaceful protest and the courage he showed towards the dangers he faced. Also Martin Luther King.”
What do you value most in life?
“Honesty, integrity, compassion and courage.”
What advice would you give to a young graduate from the North?
“Enjoy yourself. Contribute to the life of your community. Travel, and learn from your travels.”
Did you always intend to enter politics?
Séamus tells me that he didn’t intend to politics and refers me back to a previous answer - “Circumstances – It was never my particular objective, but something I felt I had to do”
Are you happy the progress seen since the Good Friday Agreement?
After a moment of thought, “I think you have to assess… has it the capacity to sustain peace, to create justice and a better quality of life? It has the capacity to do all that, but it has a long way to go”
What do you think is the current biggest challenge to the North?
“Organic politics can’t survive without idealism. Politicians in Northern Ireland look and act like elected civil servants – they have got to have ideals otherwise they will stagnate and become apparatchiks.”
Last week in the Irish News, Martin McGuinness mentioned the prospect of a United Ireland in 2014. What is your opinion on this?
Séamus talks at length about Mr McGuinness mentioning said prospect happening every year from 1973 until 2010.
“Do I take that man’s word on anything? I do not. I think the wrong question is being asked here. We must differentiate between British withdrawal and Irish Unity – they are not necessarily the same thing. Britain will withdraw at a certain point, but I don’t foresee a Unity state for quite a time. I think we will have British withdrawal without a 32 county state.”
How are you enjoying retired life?
Séamus laughs. “I’m bored! I miss the buzz.” He sits in quiet reflection for a moment and then continues, “at 73, I am in the departure lounge. Instead of working night and day as I did for decades, I am hanging onto the past, and am fearful of the future.”
