Robert Ballagh welcomes Rising centenary plans

Robert Ballagh has said he is delighted with the Government's announcement of 1916 commemorative events for next year, and believes lessons have been learned from the ill-fated Ireland Inspires promotional video.

Speaking at the launch of a €35,000 Rising funding package for the Ireland Institute - a republican cultural centre located at the birthplace of Pádraig Pearse - the artist and chairman of the institute welcomed the centenary celebrations.

However, Ballagh said that he won't be attending next year's Easter Rising parade at the GPO due to conscientious objections.

Mr Ballagh said: “I’m delighted that the Government has announced a package now because we’ve been waiting for ages, and many of the aspects of it I welcome. It’s important that the Government is now recognising this seminal event in our history.”

When asked if he would be attending the official parade at the GPO next spring, he said: “I have kind of a slight personal resistance to military displays and the Government’s event is essentially a military display, and as a lifelong pacifist I wouldn’t be big on that.”

As part of the package, the institute will receive €30,000 for refurbishment and decoration ahead of next Easter, along with a further €5,000 for a photographic exhibition.

Ireland Inspires

The former Artists Association of Ireland chairman revealed that while he wasn't invited to the launch of the Ireland Inspires video, which drew criticism from 1916 relatives' groups and historical observers, he believes that the subsequent backlash to the video caused organisers of the centenary celebrations to up their game.

“I wasn’t invited to the event and I never saw the actual video. I do understand that it met huge resistance, and obviously that has informed the Government’s new approach to commemorating this important event.”

"There was some criticism about it, but it was backdrop that people sort of zoomed in on," said Minister for Arts and Heritage Heather Humphreys, who was also at the launch.

Ms Humphreys said that the overall response to the plans unveiled by her department has been “tremendous”.