We were supposed to be the enlightened generation, the inheritors of a ‘new’ Northern Ireland, reaping the benefits of the struggle and efforts of our elders.

Our identity would never be in question, we would remember and embrace our history and our culture but we would live in harmony. A harmony that was created by negotiation, choice and that would facilitate the advance of our society.  

We would they said…so long as no one really talked about it or brought it to the attention of the outside world.

Born in 1988, I was 10 years old when my parents first voted in the Good Friday Agreement referendum and every day during and since then my national identity has been an issue.

Where you are from, what school you went to, what sport you play and even a person’s name are all identifiers of a person’s nationality in Northern Ireland and we have become experts on analysing the detail.

It comes as no surprise to me then that one of Northern Ireland’s greatest sports stars has had to face his toughest test to date not on the golf course but in the spotlight of the media about his nationality.

What does the future hold? 

As it emerged today that Rory McIlroy may have the choice of representing Ireland or Britain in the 2016 Olympics in Rio made for him by golf’s ruling body, I got to thinking, how much choice does our generation have?

It’s honourable that McIlroy did his upmost to stay away from branding himself as British or Irish, even describing himself as ‘Northern Irish’ on a few occasions, but foolish to think that it would ever go away.

Ideally, McIlroy would be an example of how far forward our society has moved, a reference point for the world as to how the new Northern Ireland generation has moved past the need to vocalise and prove their allegiance to their nationality brought out of a fear of it escaping. Unfortunately that’s not how our society works, we are the result of years of conditioning.

I argue that there is no new generation of a ‘new’ Northern Ireland because most of us were never given the choice, our national identity was set out for us long before we were ever capable of making the decision.

This can work for both sides but imagine this: you are born in a segregated unionist area, your parents and grandparents were directly affected by ‘The Troubles’, you go to school in a protestant school of your peers and when it comes to your first holiday your parents nip down and get you a British passport. Now, at what point do you get to sit down, assess the arguments from both sides and make an informed neutral decision? Many never will.

A divided nation

Many people might argue with me that the current Northern Ireland generation are more educated and informed to make a decision on their national identity than their elders ever were and that this is a sign of progress. I agree, a more unified educational system and housing system can only benefit our society, but progress is painfully slow.

You only have to look at the recent images beamed across the worldwide media of the street celebrations following the death of former British Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher and the violence of the Unionist flag protests, to see that many of those involved were of the generation, whom we pinned so many hopes on.

Make no mistake, it’s embarrassing when talking to someone outside of Northern Ireland and try and explain the mind-set and why people act how they do over the minor things, like a flag on a building for instance. But tell anyone you’re from Northern Ireland and you can see their brain instantly forming the question: What side is he from? As a reader you’re probably thinking it now – you’ve probably been thinking it from when you began reading.

I don’t blame you, it is a mind-set and a stigma associated with Northern Ireland. I’d love to be able to tell you that we are not the place you once read about. That Rory McIlroy is a prime example of how we as a generation now embrace all of the cultures that have impacted our lives but the fact is that Northern Ireland is at an identity lull.

The Good Friday Agreement took Northern Ireland into peace, it served its function at the time but it was not drafted for the current Northern Ireland. Until it is reviewed, generations will continue to have their national identity forced upon them because of our system of segregation.