It is time to reconsider the connotations of the poppy in Ireland, a remembrance Sunday service was told in St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin yesterday.
Delivering the sermon, Fr Martin Clarke, a former spokesman for Ireland's Catholic bishops, said that "rather than reinforcing division, the poppy may be seen as a valid recognition of the heroism, generosity, and self-sacrifice of tens of thousands of Irish soldiers in the World Wars of the 20th century."
Now parish priest at Monkstown, Co Dublin, Fr Martin said "for complex cultural and historical reasons" there was "a sense in which it is still taboo to wear a poppy in Ireland at this time of year, despite the insights of historians and commentators who have greatly helped us to understand in a new way the nature and extent of the involvement of Irish troops in both World Wars."
He said the work of Kevin Myers had "provided us with a great human understanding of the significant Irish connections with both World Wars." The Frank McGuinness play Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, was "a compelling portrait of a group of men divided by religion, politics and class but united in their common belief in God and country."
He referred to an article in this newspaper last Friday, where Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said we must honour our dead of the Somme as we honour the insurgents of 1916.
He quoted Mr Ahern: "we can no longer have two histories, separate and in conflict. We must acknowledge that the experiences of all the people on this island have shaped our present and, in some way, defined what it is for all of us to be Irish."
Fr Clarke felt it was "timely to recall the original symbolism of the poppy". The service was attended by President McAleese, her husband Martin, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and members of the diplomatic corps from Russia, UK, US, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Estonia, Poland, South Africa, Germany, Norway, France and the Netherlands.