Parnell admirer plans to get rid of old ivy

AS the mayoral chain was placed on his shoulders last Monday, Alban Maginness undoubtedly dwelt upon the significance of the …

AS the mayoral chain was placed on his shoulders last Monday, Alban Maginness undoubtedly dwelt upon the significance of the historic occasion.

He might have glanced at an inscription etched into the gold, read the words "Erin Go Brath" and thought it mildly peculiar that the same symbolic chain had been worn solely by unionists for 109 years.

But this, said the first ever nationalist Lord Mayor of Belfast, was no time for triumphalism. The new mayor's vision filled victory speech evoked another groundbreaking public representative.

"It was like listening to a male version of Mary Robinson," was the bemused observation of at least one journalist present.

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His election was made possible by the support of the Alliance Party and Sinn Fein. Unionist Jim Rodgers, the new deputy Lord Mayor, said that although he did not agree with his policies he would give his new boss "every support possible".

He will need it if he is to achieve his stated aim: ridding Belfast City Hall of its ancient political ivy.

The first step on this potentially perilous journey has been his decision to eschew the wearing of the ancient mayoral robes. Traditions which restrict should be abandoned, he believes.

Thus the door to the Lord Mayor's office in Belfast City Hall stands, literally, wide open to the good citizens of Belfast. The fittings in his new office are being shifted around to give the mayoral workplace a more comfortable feel.

One of his first official functions was to preside over a gathering of a group of school children from Mayo, Craigavon and Belfast.

"The feeling is on the ground," he says. "Both sides are ready for partnership."

Mr Maginness polled extremely well in North Belfast, where a natural unionist majority exists, in the recent general election. He was born in the heart of that constituency in July 1950, and was influenced to a certain degree by his schoolteacher father Alfie, also active in politics.

Described as a "hardworking but not outstanding student," he attended St Malachy's College on the Antrim Road where he performed in several school pro duct ions with a childhood friend, Derek Davis.

"He was a sound bloke," says the RTE presenter. "Albie was never one for smoking and drinking, but he could never be described as prissy. He was a solid person. Not a blusterer."

He had no inkling of his future career while at school, but his interest in history led him to study the subject at the University of Ulster. It was there, amid a climate of civil rights marches and political tension, that his commitment to constitutional politics was formed.

On graduating he decided to study law at Queen's University because "I had to do some thing", but he was already deeply committed to a fledgling SDLP.

"At that time most of those interested in politics had flirted with more extreme organisations," says one former acquaintance. "Alban never even considered an alternative to nonviolence. This takes a unique sort of commitment."

Maginness went forward in several local elections before finally winning a council seat in 1985. In the same year he was elected chairman of the SDLP.

It was in the aftermath of the hunger strikes, a traumatic time which had taken its toll of the party. There was a danger that the SDLP would be eclipsed by an emerging Sinn Fein.

Under his chairmanship the party was reorganised and won more votes.

Maginness has been deeply involved in every set of peace negotiations since the Brooke initiatives. During his six year chairmanship of the SDLP he spoke out against Margaret Thatcher ("the midwife of Sinn Fein") and described the case of the Guildford Four as "Britain's Watergate".

He is a member of the SDLP's negotiating team at the multiparty talks.

"Sensible", "solid", "serious". These are descriptions offered of him by friends and colleagues. The less charitable characterise him as "boring". But there is no doubting the esteem in which Alban Maginness, considered sensitive to negative media coverage, is held.

Colleagues at the Bar agree that his courteous nature has made him widely popular within his profession. But as one said, "He is not known as the most dynamic of barristers."

Barrister P.J. O'Hare has known Mr Maginness professionally and as a member of the SDLP for many years.

"He will bring a great dignity to the role of Lord Mayor," he says. "He is an invaluable asset to both sides of the community and will leave an indelible mark on the office."

He and his schoolteacher will Carmel - they met at an SDLP convention in 1977 - have eight children aged from sin months to 18 years. His eldest daughter is a talented artist and a staunch SDLP supporter.

Family gatherings are sometimes attended by Charles Haughey. Carmel Maginness, nee McWilliams, is related to the former Taoiseach.

Mr Maginness is a great admirer of Mrs Justice McGuinness, Charles Stewart Parnell and Daniel O'Connell.

A Westminster seat is a long term ambition. First, though, he will work on "creating a partnership amongst the political traditions of this divided city".

St Alban was a martyr who in Roman times was beheaded for sheltering a priest. If during his 12 month term Lord Mayor Alban can manage to keep his head while imposing his "inclusive" vision on the city of Belfast, comparisons with President Robinson could eventually prove warranted.