Metropol

This evening, the DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have issued a join statement asking for prayers for Ian Paisley Snr.

To those of you outside Northern Ireland, or those who didn't grow up here, this might seem a nice, but unremarkable thing to happen in the present circumstances.

It stopped me in my tracks as I realised - as occasionally happens - quite how far this place has come on in less than a generation.

marksi wrote:This evening, the DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have issued a join statement asking for prayers for Ian Paisley Snr.

To those of you outside Northern Ireland, or those who didn't grow up here, this might seem a nice, but unremarkable thing to happen in the present circumstances.

It stopped me in my tracks as I realised - as occasionally happens - quite how far this place has come on in less than a generation.

Indeed. I may only be speaking for myself, but a few years ago, the state of Revd Paisley's health wouldn't have been received with the level of concern from the Republican/Catholic community as it is - his tenure as First Minister may be seen as a final redemption to some eyes.

The few less-favourable remarks about Dr Paisley's condition which I've seen in the past 24 hours have come from non-NI natives.