Theresa Villiers: Ireland bowed to the past on Easter Sunday but was not bound by it

Over centuries, the island of Ireland has often witnessed the power of history to fuel long-held antagonisms. There is no better example than the traditional interpretations of what happened during the Easter Rising in Dublin.

For many unionists in the years after 1916, the Rising was an armed insurrection by a small number of unrepresentative rebels, at a time when the war on the western front was going particularly badly. By contrast, just a few months later thousands of Ulstermen made the supreme sacrifice at the Somme fighting for king and country.

In post-independence Ireland, the men and women of Easter 1916 gained a revered status, bordering on the mythological: a citizens' army standing against the greatest empire the world had ever seen. Those Irishmen who heeded the call by nationalist leader John Redmond to enlist in the British army and who fought on the western front were largely disregarded.

In recent years many of these stereotypes have gradually broken down, with a much greater focus on the complexities of the period.

Families who had sons at the Somme may also have had sons involved in the Rising. Ireland’s role in the first World War has been rediscovered and at long last fully recognised.

The role played by women has been more clearly acknowledged, not just those who took part in the Rising, but the 234,046 women who signed the declaration supporting the 1912 Ulster covenant opposing Irish home rule.

The governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland have been working together to put historical accuracy and mutual respect for different views at the heart of our approach to this decade of centenaries.

It is widely acknowledged that tensions around the 50th anniversaries probably contributed to the outbreak of the Troubles. Both administrations were determined to prevent the centenaries being hijacked by those who might use them to reopen the wounds of the past and to promote discord.

Dignified and inclusive

So. whatever my views as a British Conservative might be about the Rising, I acknowledge its importance for millions of Irish men and women across the world. The Government’s commemorations on Easter Sunday showed it is possible to mark events that are still sensitive and contested a century after they took place in ways that are both dignified and inclusive. I applaud them for that.

Attention will soon turn to the centenary of the Somme, a place of slaughter unmatched in British military history, which saw men from throughout the island of Ireland, from both the unionist and nationalist traditions, lay down their lives in their thousands. The tone will rightly be one of sombre reflection of the horror of what happened, and awe at the scale of the bravery shown.

Laying wreaths on July 1st on behalf of the UK government has been one of the most moving duties I have performed as Northern Ireland Secretary, remembering those of the 36th Ulster Division who fell at Thiepval and the 16th Irish Division who fought so bravely at Guillemont.

Belfast Agreement

A century on from the Rising and the Somme, relations within these islands have been transformed, not least by the Belfast Agreement, the 18th anniversary of which fell on Sunday.

Last week I visited an exhibition on 1916 at Belfast City Hall where it was clear that every word had been scrutinised, every picture the subject of negotiation, every display weighed up for accuracy – all with a view to ensuring that everyone could feel comfortable visiting the exhibition, whatever their background.

This was a good illustration of work that goes on, day in, day out, to embed and support the 1998 political settlement. We all know there are issues that divide the community in Northern Ireland, whether it is the City Hall flags vote of 2012 or views on the events of 1916. What unites us is a determination to find a pragmatic way to live with our differences so we can continue to work together to build a brighter better future for Northern Ireland.

In her groundbreaking visit to Ireland in 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth memorably spoke of “being able to bow to the past but not be bound by it”. That is the spirit underlying the Government’s approach to the 2016 centenary events.

Theresa Villiers is Secretary of State for Northern Ireland