No place for ‘soft words’ in 1916 centenary, says Tim Pat Coogan

The commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising should not be a time "for soft words and platitudes" but a realistic reappraisal of what has been achieved in the 100 years since a group of idealistic men and women went out to fight for Irish freedom, according to author, Tim Pat Coogan.

Mr Coogan said that the current Irish political leadership is gravely lacking in the sort of idealism which inspired Pearse, Connolly, Clarke and the other 1916 leaders and there should be no attempt to mask the country’s current failings in the forthcoming commemorations.

"James Connolly did not go out and give his life, by being shot to death at a time when he had to have morphine to allow him sleep, so that the anniversary of 1916 would open with 500 people on hospital trolleys and that's the reality of today's republic," said Mr Coogan.

“This should not be a time for soft words and platitudes – we should look at what the 1916 leaders wanted and what we got. Is this cherishing all of the children of the nation equally? We lost a generation to emigration and buried more people to suicide than died in the Troubles,” he said.

Mr Coogan, the author of a book on the 1916 Rising as well as biographies of Eamon De Valera and Michael Collins, said it was important the Rising be commemorated nationally and not just in Dublin and he praised Cork City Council for organising a centenary programme to mark the anniversary.

Among the events being organised by Cork City Council is "Rebellion" an exhibition at St Peter's Church on North Main Street, curated by Rachel Abrahams, which focuses on the people, both well known and unknown, who played a part in the insurrection 100 years ago.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Chris O'Leary said he was pleased to see St Peter's Church – which formerly was the Cork Vision Centre – open to the public again and serving as the city's focal point for its 1916 Commemorative Programme commencing with the "Rebellion" exhibition.

“This exhibition gives the citizens of and visitors to Cork an opportunity to engage with the background to the Rising while the activities and other events taking place over year will stimulate discussion and debate around the Rising and its legacy 100 years since,” he said.

Mr O’Leary said the themes of the events programmed for the Commemoration Centre during 2016 will be aligned with the national centenary programme, namely those of remembering, reconciling, presenting, imagining and celebrating.

The Commemoration Centre, which is being managed to Leisureworld, will be open to the general public during 2016 on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11am to 7pm and further information on events as part of the Cork City Programme 2016 can be found at www.corkcity1916.ie.