World by Storm has a nice piece, which hints just how long it took the plodders at the Oireachtas Commission to decided it actually wanted the Mansion House to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the meeting of the First Dail in the fabulously renovated Round Room there on 21st January 1919. It will go ahead, but on the 20th because it seems someone had already beaten the Irish state to it for the 21st. For Sinn Fein that anniversary is not part of history, but the present. It remains an article of Sinn Fein belief they are no ordinary political party but the alternative All Irish Government-in-waiting. A coup (de etat? – ed) for Sinn Fein then; but what does it say about the complacency of the Oireachtas Commission that it failed even to take an option on such a critical date in the State’s history?
The Commission provisionally approved the programme of events subject to the proviso that the Office attempt to resolve the issue of the reservation of the Mansion House for the 21st January which is the actual anniversary date and therefore the preferred date for the commemoration celebrations.
Yeah right lads; but like Fianna Fail’s Bev Flynn problem it’s one that was already way beyond resolving; in this case when you didn’t book the place in time…
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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