This week a former Sinn Fein Council member has called on the government to reintroduce a species known as the Francis Hughes back into the environment.

Native to County Derry and last seen in the wild in 1978, the rogue bandit was well sought after for its song and natural camouflage. Known for rambling the countryside but with only rare sightings recorded, he is fondly talked about in local legend as a symbol of freedom and good luck.

Some farmers are concerned about the threat to livestock from reintroducing the predator but the former Sinn Fein Council member has ensured media that the bandit only stalks aggressive fowl and has a much larger part to play in the counter militerisation ecosystem.

There's not much support for the proposal at present but the former Council member says he may review plans in the next 30 years and hopes to see the return of Francis Hughes in his lifetime.

Things that influence 16 year olds - who pays their pocket money, Justin Bieber, Simon Harris tik-tok videos. With this in mind it's hard to justify lowering the voting age to include teenagers with zero life experience and political opinions obtained from the back of a Frosties cereal box.

Any one vote could swing an election, people's lives and livelihoods are on the ballot paper. Call me a centrist but I wouldn't be too happy if my bus driver was a sixteen year old or my dentist was a sevteen year old. Sure you might have the odd gifted young driver but am I going to let that determine the rules of the road, not a chance.

Young people are more likely to be easily influenced by topical issues without considering economic implications, the vast majority of teenagers will have no concern for what's done with the adults tax money and they will make impulsive decisions based on some fad they've picked up at the latest Twilight convention.

Rugrats who've recently graduated from creche voting in the next minister for video games and theme parks is no way to run a country.

The biggest worry with lowering the voting age is that the majority of kids will look to one or two sources for guidance and you'll end up with larger votes for the established parties, locking people into voting habits from a younger age without them ever exploring or developing individual political beliefs.

While we shouldn't discourage young people from considering politics and/or political activism, I think we should also avoid confusing enthusiasm and responsibility. While a small portion of younglings are politically atune the vast majority are still trading pokemon cards and completely a bliss to the world around them. If I was to give any 16 year looking for a voting card some advice, I'd say you just need to continue growing up, you're nearly there. In the mean time try get involved with local campaigns and work on developing political views through existing organisations.

Ireland the Republic of Trocaire Boxes, Moving Statues, and Obama Plaza. We’re a paradox of good values and brown envelopes, anti-imperialism and double Irish, peace and partition. 

Western culture is full of double standards, catholic guilt has been replaced with plastic remorse. We contribute to inequality and climate change every time we import fruit, fast fashion or electricity; despite how much we convince ourselves that we recycle and buy fair trade coffee.

As the world has gone global the values of equality, fraternity, and liberty have not. Being a Republic at home and part of the imperial machine abroad is a difficult concept, we balance ideology with opportunity, often choosing convenience and cheap commodities without considering the cost of production, the politics behind an avocado, or the truth behind products like palm oil.

Perhaps identifying as a Republican is difficult in a broad world dominated by globalisation. In the modern world it could be hard to stay true to our values without resorting to a life of asceticism. Closed borders choke prosperity and diplomacy is required to trade with neighbours we might not fully agree with.

However one symbol we should value, understand and remain true to is our national flag which represents unity between green and orange. It’s a symbol of peace and its meaning is honoured by our domestic actions. So whatever being republican means in the modern world, being true to our flag should be an easier undertaking. Anyone corrupting the meaning of the tricolour to broadcast nationalist rhetoric is nothing short of being a traitor to peace and ignorant to what it means to have a shared Ireland under one flag. 

Reinforcing a philosophy of hatred and bitterness towards the United Kingdom is simply forgetting the goal of self determination and forming a united Ireland. Flags at half mast are not just about diplomacy abroad but about peace at home. Being a republican can be complicated these days but the green, white, and orange are in our DNA; we need to think more about what a healthy society looks like and we should respect our flag in what we do and say in order to live up to the values it represents. ​