2016 commemoration should not glorify violence, says Bruton

A WARNING that the commemoration of 1916 should not be used to glorify violence has been issued by former taoiseach John Bruton.

He was speaking at the launch of An Irish Century: Studies 1912 – 2012, edited by Bryan Fanning, a collection of essays published over the past 100 years in the Jesuit journal Studies.

“Undoubtedly the most startling essay in the book is ‘The Canon of Irish History, A challenge’ by Father Francis Shaw SJ,” said Mr Bruton at the launch in Newman House, Dublin.

He said the essay was intended for publication on the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1966 but was deemed too controversial and was not published until 1972.

“As we prepare to commemorate the enactment of Home Rule in 1914, the sacrifices by Irish soldiers in the Great War, and the deaths in and after rebellion of Easter 1916, the content of Fr Shaw’s essay is as relevant, and probably as controversial, today, as it was 46 years ago, when it was first offered for publication,” said Mr Bruton.

In his analysis of the physical force tradition of Irish nationalism Fr Shaw quoted extensively from the writings of Patrick Pearse and questioned Pearse’s identification of nationalism with holiness, his hatred of England, and his glorification of death and violence.

“All commemorations serve an educational purpose for the future. It is important that such sentiments as these not be glorified in 2016, and that their consequences be fairly assessed.

“They were misleading to people 100 years ago, and they are just as misleading today,” said Mr Bruton.