Pearse or the poppy fields? Let’s stand by the Irish Republic

IN recent years the Government and society in the Republic have been bombarded ad nauseam by those campaigning for state recognition of those Irish in British uniform who died on the poppy fields of France.

Since 1994 the Irish state has formally recognised and paid tribute to those Irish who died in both world wars by means of a national day of commemoration.

This is a most solemn and dignified event which is attended by the President, the Taoiseach, leaders of the opposition parties, church leaders and members of the general public.

Now, as we approach the centenary of that most seminal event in Irish history – the 1916 Rising – there are rumblings about the morality of commemorating it. There have been calls to have the ceremonies cancelled for fear of causing offence to those unionist Irish who espouse a British ethos and oppose Irish separatism and independence.

One can only conclude that we should only honour those Irish who died in British uniform fighting in foreign wars, not those Irish who gave their lives in Ireland fighting for the establishment of an Irish nation.

On the 75th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1991, the then government bowed to pressure from unrepresentative groups who were ideologically opposed to Irish separatism and shamefully ignored the anniversary of the Easter Rising which was to rid most of this country of British colonial rule.

Yet those who opposed commemorating 1916 in Dublin on the basis that those involved showed disregard for the sanctity of human life had no problem commemorating the unparalleled slaughter of millions during the 1914-1918 inter-imperialist conflict.

Initial government preparations are already underway to celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Rising. It is most likely that in 2016 a new coalition government led by Fine Gael will be in power, and seeing as it was a Fine Gael led inter-party government that declared the Republic of Ireland in 1949 it is unlikely they will shelve the celebrations. However, if for any reason the commemorations are put on ice, there are those of us who will take it upon ourselves to honour those brave women and men of 1916, just as we did for the 75th anniversary in 1991 when the government caved in to those who objected to celebrations to mark our sovereignty and independence. The idealism and bravery of those Irish women, men, boys and girls who punctured the colonial bubble and inflicted a mortal wound on British imperialism will not be forgotten, ever.

Tom Cooper

Delaford Lawn

Knocklyon

Dublin 16