1916 centenary celebrations: A template for Civil War ceremonies

As the centenary of the 1916 Rising draws to a close, it is important to acknowledge that the apprehension that preceded the year’s flag-waving and cheers has proved unfounded.

What could so easily have been a festival celebrating blood sacrifice, doomed militarism, violence, and national and religious extremism was much more.

The centenary events celebrated community and asked questions that could not have been easily asked — or honestly answered — at the last great celebration of that event, in 1966. At this early moment, the celebrations must be judged a success.