Time has come for unionists to unite and map out where NI will be in 2121

I am aware that several councils in Northern Ireland are planning a programme of events to mark the anniversary, but it is fair to say that others will not be doing so in any meaningful way.

There will be many efforts made to downplay this anniversary among those who do not wish to recognise the reality of the political settlement which was reached in 1920 through the Government of Ireland Act.

The Act gave birth to Northern Ireland, as it also established the Irish Free State. There will be those in positions of influence who will paint Northern Ireland in as unfavourable a light as possible.

Sadly, many unionist people have had little opportunity as they came through the education system to learn about the establishment of Northern Ireland and they do not feel able to factually counter those who are deliberately negative.

Students should be learning today about Northern Ireland and the period in which it was created and this would give a balanced and informed view if it was the work of established historians and approved through the educational authorities.

There is therefore an onus on unionist politicians to ensure educational events and programmes are included in the line-up of events for the centenary. Rather than downplaying 100 years of ‘Our Wee Country’, every effort should be made to celebrate the events and people that shaped us.

I hope that our local councils are well advanced in their planning to celebrate the centenary of Northern Ireland, which is less than nine months away. It would be interesting to know how advanced plans actually are.

As someone who has been involved in unionist politics for many decades I believe devolution has not worked and shows no signs of doing so in any meaningful way. This is my opinion, but I accept others would not agree. Now is the time, however, for the various strands of unionism to come together in a forum to discuss the future promotion of unionism and what our long-term aims and strategies should be.

One lasting legacy of the centenary of Northern Ireland could be a Convention of Unionism which would set the road map for the next century and remove all the uncertainty for the community in Northern Ireland, the majority of whom – whatever their religious or political backgrounds – wish to remain as an integral part of the UK. Let that be a challenge to those who find themselves in positions of political leadership at the current time. Let us not lose by default after a century of effort.

Thomas Daniel Robinson, Former UUP mayor of Larne, Early-to-mid 1980s

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