{"id":24662,"date":"2022-01-01T09:49:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T14:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24662"},"modified":"2022-01-02T09:52:44","modified_gmt":"2022-01-02T14:52:44","slug":"first-unionist-elected-to-the-seanad-receives-obe-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24662","title":{"rendered":"First Unionist Elected To The Seanad Receives OBE Honor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ulster Unionist Party politician Ian Marshall has been made an OBE (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first unionist politician ever elected to the Seanad has been made an OBE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Marshall has been recognized in the British New Year Honors list for his public and political service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former senator and president of the Ulster Farmers\u2019 Union said he was \u201ccompletely blindsided\u201d when he received the notification of the honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 53-year-old, from Co Armagh, was the first unionist to be elected to the Republic\u2019s upper chamber in 2018, as an independent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He lost his seat in the Seanad elections in April last year and has since joined the Ulster Unionist Party and will run in the Stormont Assembly elections in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cI had no idea I had even been nominated, it came completely out of the blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was completely blindsided by this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am really honored and astounded that I was even considered for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was opening my normal mail when I got the letter. To get a letter like that was just breathtaking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Marshall said he had entered public life as a lobbyist when he was just 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cI did that, and then I became president of the Ulster Farmers\u2019 Union. I worked for about eight to 10 years on the agri-food strategy board, and then I took the opportunity to run in the Seanad by-election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI ran and was elected to the Irish Seanad. I was always minded that I was there as an Ulster unionist, I was there to represent unionist opinions and perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI spent all my life in politics and public life trying to make things better, to change things. It is lovely for that to be recognized and acknowledged \u2013 that is a huge honor and a huge privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Marshall said he is optimistic for the political future in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cI have always maintained in Northern Ireland the silent majority is the important voice, the largest number of people are fundamentally good people who want to see Northern Ireland thrive and do well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are cognizant and aware of the troubles we have had and recognize that but want to focus on building a shared future together for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that the people I work with and socialize with are all fundamentally good people, they are proud of their identity but accept others. They are tired of the old bigotry of sectarianism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe time that I was in Dublin gave me a fantastic insight into the political structures, Irish politics, the political parties and their attitudes to the north and what goes on in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArchbishop Desmond Tutu said that to make peace you have got to talk with your enemies. I am very strong in my unionism, but I am happy to talk to anybody and respect everyone\u2019s identity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Marshall said the date for him to receive his honor has not yet been set, but that he is looking forward to doing so with his family.<\/p>\n

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