Bertie’s selective approach to landmark events

ANYONE who suspected that the 1916 commemorations were a Fianna Fáil electioneering ploy had their suspicions confirmed by the brazen comments made by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the opening of the 1916 exhibition at the National Museum last week.

Mr Ahern listed what he saw as the “four cornerstones of independent Ireland” - the 1916 Proclamation, the 1937 Constitution, the Treaty of Rome in 1972, and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

He added that “nobody should seek to own Irish history”, which he described as a “shared legacy”.

If he truly believes this, why did he refer only to the achievements of Fianna Fáil-led governments?

He ignores the many achievements of other governments since independence, for example, the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the declaration of the Republic of Ireland in 1948, the Sunningdale Agreement in 1974 and the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985.

Does the Taoiseach really believe these events were of no significance to the Ireland of today? To ignore these landmark events smacks of petty, partisan grudge-bearing, something which we have become accustomed to from Fianna Fáil these days.

The debate on the Rising has been characterised by a pathetic jousting match between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin over who ‘owns’ its legacy, and we are now told that this commemoration is to become an annual event. If we are to be subjected to this kind of nonsense on an annual basis, then I will seriously consider taking a foreign holiday every Easter for the foreseeable future.

There are far more serious issues facing this country and its leaders.

Barry Walsh

Brookfield Hall

Castletroy

Limerick