Fawning over the royals but neglecting our heritage

THE media fanfare over the British royal wedding and the upcoming visit of the Queen of England contrasts with the neglect now shown to the 1916 Memorial in Limerick.

While the Irish media is full of praise for the visit of the queen who is commander in chief of all British armed forces, there is a censored silence over the achievements of the 1916 Rising leaders.

The 1916 Monument in Limerick and the memorial to the mayors of Limerick murdered by British crown forces during the War of Independence are being badly neglected by the civic authorities.

The 1916 Memorial on Sarsfield Bridge is now in an overgrown state and plaques are missing from it.

It would be more in line with the wishes of the Irish people for the Limerick City Council to ensure that Republican memorials are maintained and treated with respect than to invite the queen of England to the city.

The entire saturation coverage of the royal wedding and the visit of the queen is simply a device to encourage the normalisation of British rule throughout Ireland and it must be resisted.

The reason for all this coverage and emphasis on British royalty must be questioned especially at a time when the 26-county administration is attempting to airbrush the 1916 Easter Rising from Irish history.

Sean O’Neill

Prospect

Limerick