Sir, – Prof Ronan Fanning reminds us that the United States and France are quite happy to celebrate their respective commemorative events without embarrassment ("Centenary of 1916 is a time for shameless celebration", Opinion & Analysis, March 2nd). But neither the United States nor France have had to deal with the poisonous legacy which, to this day, casts its shadow over the political landscape, in both jurisdictions on this island.
Dissident republicans still remain a viable threat to peace. They claim their legitimacy derives directly from the actions taken by the leaders of the 1916 Rising who, without any mandate from the people, took up arms on their own terms.
Is it any wonder that the IRA and the many offshoots it spawned were, and are, often revered in some quarters and fearfully accepted as protectors in others. For too many people, 1916 represents the beginning of a process that remains incomplete. For some, it is a dangerous and delusional obsession. The 2016 commemoration is fast becoming a millstone rather than a milestone. – Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY,
Killester, Dublin 5.
Sir, – There is no doubting the importance of the Rising in the minds of Irish people and the commemoration of that tragedy. What I do have a problem with is the word “celebration” being used for the upcoming events, whatever may be cooked up by the Government and others wishing to claim it as their own. I see nothing to celebrate. My way of commemorating 1916 would be simply a sculpture or stone with the names of everyone who died in horrible days of destruction and death, especially the names of the innocent people caught up in a sudden conflagration they knew nothing about. A wreath laid by the President and the presence of the descendants of those who died would be a fitting commemoration and not a glorification of violence, sacrifice or heroics, whatever people may wish to call it. We’ve had enough of deaths in this country, or have people forgotten all the wasted lives and the cause of terrible grief to families in the name of Irish freedom? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN BYRNE,
Bantry, Co Cork.
Sir, – The passage of the Government of Ireland Act (1914 ) was delayed until after the outbreak of war by the provisions of the 1911 Parliament Act which permitted the House of Lords to delay legislation passed in the Commons for no more than two years. Had war not broken out in August 1914 the legislation for home rule would have been passed in peacetime and the provision for the suspension of the Act during the conflict with Germany and Austria would not have been made. When the Bill was initiated in the Commons in 1912 no-one could have foreseen that it would be passed in wartime. Prof Fanning should know of the role of contingency in history; to put it another way, in earthly terms events are not foreordained.
In contending that Easter 1916 should be an occasion for “shameless celebration” next year, Prof Fanning points to the bicentenary commemoration in America 39 years ago. As he observes, the United States were born in conditions of violence. Yes, but in 1976 it was not the case that a large-scale terrorist campaign directed towards unifying Canada with the US was only recently over; it was not then the case that some terrorists were still fighting to achieve that aim; it was not then the case that some Canadians were murdering those of their compatriots they believed to be supporters of reunification. If violence in Ireland had ended at Easter 1916 or even in December 1921, Prof Fanning’s case for celebration might have more weight. The case against celebration of Easter 1916 is that the experience of violence which began then is only just over. – Yours, etc,
CDC ARMSTRONG
Belfast.