Pearse would want to see us express confidence in our youth

In an interview with Michael Moynihan, former Kerry and Limerick manager, Mickey Ned O’Sullivan ponders "what would Padraig Pearse and his colleagues make of an Ireland like today’s? "

I believe that they would be quite disenchanted that, being considered old enough to sign a Proclamation that defined our country, and being old enough to fight and die for that country, in today’s world they (and doubtless many of their 1916 colleagues) would be deemed unsuitable to stand for the Presidency on the grounds of age.

Eamonn Ceannt, Sean McDermott, and Joseph Mary Plunkett of the signatories, and Mallin, Colbert, Daly and Heuston of the other 1916 leaders were all under 35 when they died.