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.