Scotland on Sunday reported yesterday that Scottish novelist Alan Warner (left) plans to boycott one of the country’s major literary events as a protest against the presence of Ian Paisley, the Northern Irish First Minister. Warner declined an invitation to attend this month’s Wigtown Book Festival after learning Paisley (whom he views as “sectarian”) would be the guest of honor at the ten-day event beginning September 28.
But the writer’s stance has been criticized by a leading Irish writer who claims it is an insult to the people of the province who democratically elected Paisley as the head of a cross-community government. Said the anonymous insider: “The whole thing took us by surprise as the festival is patently not a sectarian event. In fact it is quite the opposite, as we are celebrating peace in Northern Ireland and have speakers from all communities and both sides of the Irish border. Some people have expressed surprise that Ian Paisley is coming to speak, but he is the elected First Minister of Northern Ireland and we are moving into a new era. If Martin McGuinness can bury the hatchet and work side by side with Ian Paisley then I’m sure other people can too. We have got to move forwards and not continue to look to the past.