Reform Group (Ireland)

The Reform Group was an organisation based in Dublin that sought to have Ireland rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Reform Group
Formation1998 (25 years ago)
TypeAdvocacy group
LeaderMurt O'Sullivan

History

The group was launched in 1998 as The Reform Movement[1] shortly after the successful referendum ratifying the Good Friday Agreement and describing itself as a coalition of "new unionists for the new millennium".[2][3]

A number of its founders, such as Anne Holliday, had been members of the anti-republican group, New Consensus.[4] At its launch, the group called for:

The group claims to be a voice for "alternative viewpoints" of "Irishmen and Irishwomen who do not fit in the seamless definition" of nationalist or unionist.[5] It has previously voiced support for citizens of Ireland being given the right to apply for British passports. The group has also expressed views that are critical of the status of the Irish language.[6]

In May 2010, the group launched a book called, Ireland and the Commonwealth: Towards Membership. Speaking at the launch were independent Senator David Norris, writer Mary Kenny and Trinity College professor Robert Martin, all of whom stated their support for Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth.[7] It was described in The Phoenix magazine as a "ridiculous Unionist ginger group".[8]

At its inception and for some years afterwards, the "badge" or logo of The Reform Group was Saint Patrick's Cross, a white flag with a red saltire.[9] This was a controversial choice of symbol[10] as the authenticity of the symbol as one representing Ireland has often been debated.[11]

References

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