SF MLA wants Armour’s alternative Covenant commemorated

North Antrim MLA Daithí McKay asked his party colleague Carál Ní Chuilín what plans there were to commemorate the “Alternative Ulster Covenant of 1913.”

The Alternative Covenant - signed by jsut 12k compared with close to 500k signatories of the original Covenant - was the brainchild of Rev James Brown Armour.

‘Armour of Ballymoney’ was one of the most prominent political figures to emerge from North Antrim at the turn of the twentieth century.

Ms Ní Chuilín said the ‘Alternative Ulster Covenant’ has been reflected in a series of lectures that took place in September.

“The Executive unanimously agreed that the DCAL and DETI Ministers will jointly bring forward an approach to help people explore the political, social and cultural impact of the 1912-22 period,” she stated.

“The approach is now being finalized to set an inclusive tone and connect the events and stories behind these significant anniversaries. The key issue is not whether these events are remembered but how they are remembered in the context of a shared and accepting society.

“The creative and cultural infrastructure and programmes already funded and supported by my Department will play a key role in telling the stories and different interpretations of events from this important decade in our history.

“For example, PRONI delivered a lecture series throughout September 2012 entitled ‘A Decade of Change, Conflict and Transformation’. Talks in this series explored the Ulster Covenant as well as Nationalism in the early 1900s. The Alternative Ulster Covenant of 1913 was referenced within this series,” she stated.