There will be a "eulogy and wreath-laying ceremony" in Paris next weekend. In fact there will probably be two, the first on Saturday on the pitch at the new Stade de France. It was being said in Dublin this week that all the members of our rugby squad are terrified of being picked to face the French, so certain are they of being pulverised.
The Tanaiste Mary Harney was due to attend the match and the Wild Geese Ball organised by the Ireland Fund of France in the Bois de Boulogne the previous evening, but has pulled out because of the by-elections.
The planned eulogy and wreath-laying will be undertaken by Senator John Dardis at the Montmartre Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 8th, at the grave of the United Irishman Myles Byrne of Monaseed, Co Wexford. Byrne, a 1798 rebel, went to France as Robert Emmet's emissary and stayed after the abortive rising of 1803. He spent 30 years in the French army and became a chef de bataillon.
Dardis, a Kildare man, is involved because of his friendship with Pat Power of the Co Wicklow 1798 Education Committee. The two are part of a group of about 20 who regularly travel to international rugby matches, and this year they decided to mark the bicentenary of 1798. All are welcome at the cemetery, they say. Take the Metro to Place Clichy, go to Rue Caulaincour and they will be gathered by the large Celtic cross.