The 100th anniversary of our state is a golden chance to reach out to nationalists

(‘NI centenary celebration should be inclusive – up to a point’)

He will have rattled the cages of republicans intent on writing a negative narrative denouncing the past 100 years.

His salient point, that a Northern Irish identity is one that increasing numbers of people here from all backgrounds cite, put the finger on there being more than hope for the future.

Unionism has a duty to use the opportunities 2021 presents to remove us all from the sectarian republican quagmire in which Sinn Fein are suffocating progress. Yet we are stuck in the mire while the Executive Office portrays a daily “them and us” battle where republican intransigence makes a mockery of power-sharing.

2021 is a well-timed moment for unionism to examine how it can execute a plan determining the type of country a growing majority will embrace and settle for over decades to come.

With or without Sinn Fein’s approval, unionists must press ahead with the golden opportunity 2021 offers to a society crying out for leadership guiding all generations toward a Northern Ireland at peace with where it is and growing a prosperity to be shared across all communities.

It is the current generations of unionists who have won the right to define their own self-determination. It is for others to decide to be included. I hope they do.

In preparation for 2021, there is no doubt that the unionist leaderships need to reconnect with their core support base, but go much further in creating an understanding with small ‘u’ unionists and small ‘n’ nationalists. This triple lock is how real partnerships can re-model a better system for the Northern Irish.

David McNarry, Comber