Home Rule might have been better than legacy left us by 1916 rebels

FOR the third time in a month, the men of 1916 were honoured recently.

First there was a parade on Easter Sunday, then the Fianna Fáil march to Arbour Hill (led by the Taoiseach and some of his followers in berets) and, finally, the Government’s annual commemoration Mass at Arbour Hill on May 2 when, again, the President solemnly laid a wreath.

In his homily, Bishop Smith spoke of the men of 1916 being guided by an informed conscience which did not see World War I as their battle. The bishop gave grudging absolution to the ordinary Irish soldiers, saying their conscience had to be respected, but not those who encouraged them to become involved in that war, fighting against the “gallant allies” of the men of 1916.

Bishop Smith might have added that those men had the support of middle class, mostly Catholic, Ireland and they had enlisted in the belief that Home Rule would be granted.

Indeed Home Rule might have been as good — if not better — than what ensued from 1916.

The bishop might have added also that the roles played by O’Connell, Parnell, Redmond and others of non-violent disposition must be respected at least as much as those of the 1916 rebels.

And what about the legacy of 1916, bishop? The bloodshed, the civil war, partition, and the virtual decimation of the Protestant population in this State.

And what about the 30 years of sectarian slaughter unleashed by the Provos who chose the 1916 men as mentors.

Will future electoral gains give retrospective justification to that, like the election of 1918 did to the 1916 Rising?

I also noted how Education Minister Mary Hanafin was quoted at the launch of Dermot Ferriter’s book, What If, as saying that if Bertie had not reintroduced the 1916 parade, would FF be up 5% in the polls?

Has the cat been let out of the bag? Do I detect an attempt by the Catholic Church to restore some type of nationalist/Catholic alliance such as existed for many years in this State. A sort of Bourbons come home to resurrect the ancien regime.

Brian McCaffrey

Clifton Crescent

Galway