Controversial 1916 banner removed from College Green

A contentious 1916 commemorative banner, featuring three politicians who died before the Rising and one who opposed the rebellion, has been removed from the Bank of Ireland building at College Green in Dublin.

The banner, depicting Henry Grattan, Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell and John Redmond, were a source of controversy since they were erected ahead of St Patrick's Day. Grattan, O'Connell and Parnell died respectively in 1820, 1847 and 1891, while Redmond described the Rising as a "wicked and insane" event.

Dublin City Council (DCC) had defended the banner saying it was "felt appropriate and fitting to pay due respect to the endeavours of some of the great constitutional nationalists and parliamentarians".

However, assistant council chief executive Brendan Kenny last Monday told councillors he would have the banner removed the following morning if that was their wish.

But, while councillors from most parties, apart from Fine Gael and Labour, spoke against the banner, they failed to vote before the end of the meeting on a resolution to have Mr Kenny take it down.

The following day the council said it would stay in place for “the duration of the commemorations programme”. The programme is scheduled to continue to the end of the year.

However, on Friday morning, the council removed the banner. In a statement it said it had had an arrangement with the bank for the temporary erection of the banner.

“It was always intended that both parties would agree that they would be removed within a few weeks following the Easter weekend celebrations.”

While the Bank of Ireland banner was the first to be removed, other banners on privately owned buildings would be removed on a phased basis during the next few weeks, the council said.

“It is intended that banners on DCC property will remain in situ for a longer period possibly for the rest of the year subject to them remaining in good condition.”