AN IRISH woman has revealed she sent a thank-you card to European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker after he stood up for Ireland.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Liveline, Haley from Co. Clare revealed her surprise after a picture of Mr Juncker holding the card as he stood with Taiseach Leo Varadkar was featured in the British Press.
In the card, she thanked Mr Juncker for backing Ireland after MPs voted for British Prime Minster Theresa May to seek alternative arrangements to the backstop.
President @JunckerEU welcomes Taoiseach @campaignforleo. Nobody should underestimate our unity and our solidarity with #Ireland. pic.twitter.com/zGdcPfChmi
— Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) February 6, 2019
“When the president of the EU parliament [sic] stood up and said, ‘Ireland’s borders are Europe’s borders’ and as I said in the card I literally wanted to jump for joy and kiss him,” Haley told Liveline.
“I knew at that point we had the support of Europe and nothing was going to change and it was a relief to be honest.”
Haley, who said there was no political agenda behind the card, revealed she sent it from herself, her husband and dogs Scooby and Little Boo.
"I sent the card because I was worried about what might happen to Ireland after Brexit" #liveline @joeliveline pic.twitter.com/8l9YouoVuZ
— Liveline (@rteliveline) February 7, 2019
In it she wrote: “For the 1st time ever Ireland is stronger than Britain. That strength comes not from guns or bombs. It comes from your words and that or your colleagues.”
She added that Britain’s late bid to seek alternative arrangements to the backstop showed it does not care about peace in Northern Ireland.
She concluded, in true Irish fashion, by inviting Mr Juncker around for a cup of tea if he was ever around.
Haley, who did not give her last name, revealed she had been the subject of abuse online after the card was featured in the British Press.
She told Liveline online comments included someone saying they were surprised the card wasn’t written on a beermat, while another said they would save her some potato seeds to use after a hard Brexit.
However she said the reaction to the card showed the impact one person can have.
“At the start I said there’s no point doing it, he’ll never even read it, he’ll never even see it, never mind that he’ll mention it,” said Haley.
“Certainly I’ve got a lesson that one person can make a little difference.”
