I saw a post on Twitter about two unionists who according to their enemies have converted to nationalism (Linzi McLaren and Wallace Thompson). Then someone asked if anyone ever went to other direction. So, who are the nationalists / republicans that are now loyalists?
There would be more republicans who have gone anti republicans rather than going loyalist I suppose...likes of Maria Cahill et al. Actually going the whole way....very few
Was Malachi O'Doherty ever a nationalist?
Eoghan Harris, Ruth Dudley Edwards.
Quote from: Baile Brigín 2 on August 13, 2026, 02:33:50 PMEoghan Harris, Ruth Dudley Edwards.
Ah Eoghan Harris, thankfully had kinda forgotten that he existed.
He is a toxic man.
Just checked that he is still alive as I wouldn't want to speak ill of the dead.
Wasn't Harris once a "stickie"?
That other yoke was always an anti everything Irish nasty.
Conor Cruise O'Brien?
Ellis o Hanlon?
Certainly a few Dublin journalists who hate the Ra so much (fair enough) but as a result have then lost all rationale on their views and lack of criticism of the other side.
Harris is a Unionist.Nationalists are educated. Loyalists tend not to be. Hard to see how a nationalist would become a loyalist.
Quote from: Rossfan on August 13, 2026, 03:30:05 PMWasn't Harris once a "stickie"?
That other yoke was always an anti everything Irish nasty.
Conor Cruise O'Brien?
I think I remember Conor Cruise turning up at some loyalist shindig and getting chased out of it. I enjoyed that bit lol
Gerry Fitt and a few other early SDLP activists.
Micheal Martin
Extremists have been known to flip from one extreme point of view to the total opposite.
In the case of Eoghan Harris, he was in a "Peoples' Front of Judea vs. Judean Peoples' Front" spat with the Provos, when he was a Stickie. His obsession with the Provos and Sinn Fein led him into the bosom of Unionism.
Quote from: Pub Bore on August 13, 2026, 05:01:11 PMGerry Fitt and a few other early SDLP activists.
Micheal Martin
When was Mehole a Republican?
Quote from: Orior on August 13, 2026, 04:59:29 PMQuote from: Rossfan on August 13, 2026, 03:30:05 PMWasn't Harris once a "stickie"?
That other yoke was always an anti everything Irish nasty.
Conor Cruise O'Brien?
I think I remember Conor Cruise turning up at some loyalist shindig and getting chased out of it. I enjoyed that bit lol
Back in my 90s college days, I remember Conor Cruise sitting proudly at a UCD L&H debate night about the peace process in support of Robert McCartney. McCartney did not go over well with the UCD audience.
David Ervine on the other hand came across as the epitome of reason and bridge building.
Not a nationalist but Kate Hoey was a Marxist pro-United Irelander in her younger days.
Shane Paul O'Donerty
Quote from: J70 on August 13, 2026, 07:40:39 PMQuote from: Orior on August 13, 2026, 04:59:29 PMQuote from: Rossfan on August 13, 2026, 03:30:05 PMWasn't Harris once a "stickie"?
That other yoke was always an anti everything Irish nasty.
Conor Cruise O'Brien?
I think I remember Conor Cruise turning up at some loyalist shindig and getting chased out of it. I enjoyed that bit lol
Back in my 90s college days, I remember Conor Cruise sitting proudly at a UCD L&H debate night about the peace process in support of Robert McCartney. McCartney did not go over well with the UCD audience.
David Ervine on the other hand came across as the epitome of reason and bridge building.
Awful shame about David Irvine dying so young. I think he would have continued to be a positive influence on all things political. Ireland would be a better place if he was still about today.
Quote from: Pub Bore on August 13, 2026, 05:01:11 PMGerry Fitt and a few other early SDLP activists.
Micheal Martin
Hume?
Who was the guy was he a journalist switched to Nationalism during the free Derry campaign?
Quote from: SouthOfThe Bann on August 13, 2026, 11:15:11 PMWho was the guy was he a journalist switched to Nationalism during the free Derry campaign?
Nick Ross?
Quote from: Bord na Mona man on August 13, 2026, 06:08:23 PMExtremists have been known to flip from one extreme point of view to the total opposite.
In the case of Eoghan Harris, he was in a "Peoples' Front of Judea vs. Judean Peoples' Front" spat with the Provos, when he was a Stickie. His obsession with the Provos and Sinn Fein led him into the bosom of Unionism.
He soon got his commuppance (https://substack.com/@eamonngormley/p-148562414), though.