Easter Rising – Slugger O'Toole

On This Day 104 years ago, the Easter Rising began…

Brian O'Neill on April 24, 2020, 1:56 pm | Readers 1488

The very talented John Breslin runs the Twitter account Old Ireland in Colour. He colourises old photos and he does an amazing job – it is an essential follow. For today he put up the colourised photo of the Easter Rising leaders, it really brings them to life. His previous work is well worth checking out, I have included some examples below. Peig Sayers at her own fireplace 1946 Dunquin, Co. Kerry Photographer: Caoimhín Ó Danachair Source: https://t.co/xzEeoUzlwl @duchas_ie CC …

Busting the Historical Myths: The Easter Rising Part 2- The Aftermath….

Patrick Concannon on April 18, 2020, 7:00 am | Readers 3747

In my previous article I was probably a little mischievous in my conclusion as I attempted to convey that the British Intelligence Community was well aware of the plans for a Rising on Easter Sunday and that there had been on their part a wish to combat and defeat the Irish Volunteer movement once and for all. There is now to this day a general feeling that the Rising and its aftermath changed Ireland utterly. There is a feeling that …

Busting the Myths Part III: The Easter Rising…

Patrick Concannon on April 13, 2020, 7:00 am | Readers 5753

The Easter Rising has gone down in Irish History as a watershed moment. For Republicans especially it is the seminal moment in recent Irish History commemorated with parades and rallies at Easter every year. Many to this day still believe the Rising was an unexpected event from the British perspective. There is a belief that the British were taken totally by surprise by a well- disciplined force, the Irish Volunteers, as most of the Dublin Garrison had left to enjoy …

Nesbitt “We are not here simply to be controversial. We are here to offer an unapologetic unionist perspective on the event of 100 years ago”

David McCann on April 6, 2016, 8:13 pm | Readers 3519

The UUP held an event in Dublin this afternoon to give a Unionist perspective on the Easter Rising. Here are the remarks given by the party leader, Mike Nesbitt; (I have highlighted some key passages) I hope today has been challenging, but not for its own sake. We are not here simply to be controversial. We are here to offer an unapologetic unionist perspective on the event of 100 years ago; the causes, and the lasting consequences of what we …

Gerry Adams at Easter. In full

Brian Walker on April 3, 2016, 10:42 am | Readers 2383

I though it worthwhile to put on the record Gerry Adams’ Easter Centenary address, part unreconstructed old republicanism, part election address, a classic of its kind in style and content, without further comment. On Sunday 27th March, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD addressed the Easter Rising commemoration in Belfast’s Milltown Cemetery. Mr Adams stated that hurts and divisions must be healed if we are to realise the vision of the 1916 Proclamation. HIs speech in full: Address by …

Perhaps it is time for Unionists to do some public thinking about their own history…?

Mick Fealty on April 1, 2016, 7:07 pm | Readers 3859

As the week draws to a close some interesting material has been drawn to the top of our collective consciousness. I suspect that slowly it will dawn on some of our own politicians (not just unionist ones) that saying no will barely suffice for the winding road ahead. Here’s Alex Kane with some important home truths for those on the Unionist side… … unionists do tend to focus on the ‘physical force’ tradition within republicanism while glossing over their own …

Ford to attend interfaith service for all victims of Easter Rising

David McCann on April 1, 2016, 6:55 pm | Readers 774

David Ford is to attend an interfaith service for all victims of the Easter Rising at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. The event will see the unveiling of a was inscribed with the names of all those who lost their lives during the Rising namely members of Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army, British Army, Dublin Metropolitan Police and Royal Irish Constabulary, as well as civilians. Speaking about the decision, Ford said; This memorial is inspired by the International Memorial of Notre …

Was Michael D right to decline Belfast City Council’s ‘invitation’…?

Mick Fealty on April 1, 2016, 11:56 am | Readers 1391

I see there’s been a major flaming debate on whether President Michael D Higgins was right or wrong to decline to come once the DUP said they would not be attending. I only joined in late last night on Twitter, but I couldn’t see a sound reason against him doing so. Although Belfast City Council has done some very good things with the limited powers it has over the years, we’ve also seen that it can be every bit the sectarian …

Perhaps the Irish kept changing the question because the British weren’t listening?

Mick Fealty on March 31, 2016, 10:26 am | Readers 2190

At Conservative Home, Dan Hannan nails something crucial, I think, in how the British mishandled Ireland throughout the century which followed the Act of Union… It is hard to read the history of Britain and Ireland without wanting to weep at the missed opportunities. For more than a century, Westminster had played catch-up in its Irish policy, always addressing a previous problem. By the time religious equality was proclaimed in 1829 (something Pitt intended as a parallel to the 1801 …

In defence of John Bruton

Brian Walker on March 30, 2016, 11:22 am | Readers 2138

It was brave of former Taoiseach John Bruton to chose last week to return to the ultimate Irish counterfactual. He’s taken to task for it in the Irish Times by historian Dr Brian P Murphy OSB I believe,” said Bruton, “Ireland would have reached the position it is in today, an independent nation of 26 or 28 counties, if it had stuck with the Home Rule policy and if the 1916 rebellion had not taken place.” the choice to use …

Easter Rising 2016: Live and let celebrate

Turgon on March 28, 2016, 1:14 pm | Readers 1518

Last week a Muslim acquaintance of mine wished me Happy Easter. I try to remember to wish Muslims Happy Eid. I would submit this has parallels with how Unionists and other non Republicans should approach the Easter Rising celebrations. Christians can and do invite those of other or no religion to Easter events as a form of evangelism: I believe Muslims do the same thing. At such events an attempt is often made to “convert” the invitees to the religion …

Easter ’16, Once Again

Pádraig Belton on March 26, 2016, 2:50 pm | Readers 1108

DUBLIN—Here in Ireland, this weekend, Yeats’s terrible beauty becomes a centenarian. It might have had a letter from the Queen, were history different. It is a pleasing sign of recent Irish social change that 1916 is not being commemorated as a good-and-evil struggle, one with Ireland on the side of the angels—and evil Britain receiving its due comeuppance and ouster. Call this the Wind That Shakes The Barley view of Irish historiography. Consider halfway back, 1966, for something less nuanced …

Easter & Innocence

Paul Hagan on March 26, 2016, 11:02 am | Readers 541

Still trying to read all the books I got for Christmas I’ve been dipping-into a recently-published collection of poetry by a local priest. His works of short and accessible verse are mostly on matters that might feature in a country curate’s sermons, except for one, which retells a story from his childhood, his trip to Dublin at Easter 1966. He recalls how he “Felt at home beneath the colours of the GPO” Recalling a time when the display of the …

Halfway House – Philip Orr’s new play exploring 1916 from the vantage point of 1966

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on January 19, 2016, 12:30 pm | Readers 826

HALFWAY HOUSE – Half way home for two women disrupted by a blizzard on the Glenshane Pass the pub doubles as a half way point between 1916 and today to look back at the Easter Rising and the Somme in Philip Orr’s new play.

Foster: “The rebellion which took place 100 years ago this Easter was directly to attack the state to which I owe my allegiance”

David McCann on January 9, 2016, 4:36 pm | Readers 4845

Arlene Foster has ruled out any attendance at events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. Speaking to the Impartial Reporter she said; The rebellion which took place 100 years ago this Easter was directly to attack the state to which I owe my allegiance. I don’t think I would be invited, but even if I was invited I certainly would not be going to commemorate a violent attack on the United Kingdom. She continued; I don’t think they …

Sorry Séamus, but there can be no such thing as retrospective democracy.

Andrew Gallagher on October 11, 2015, 10:16 pm | Readers 1946

Séamus Mallon has a speech transcript in the Sindo today. In it he takes his usual stance on the counterproductive futility of armed republicanism. But one fundamental contradiction sticks out like a sore thumb. Early on he says: In that spirit let me say I applaud current efforts to make 1916 commemorations truly inclusive. In the event, the men and women of 1916 received a retrospective democratic endorsement which more recent violence including against this State has never obtained. But …

Ag canadh le taibhsí na staire sa GPO i mBaile Átha Cliath…

Ian Malcolm on April 17, 2015, 9:33 am | Readers 486

Note A shorter version of this piece in English is available at http://goo.gl/Fay35A via the Belfast Telegraph San amhrán chlúiteach Oráisteach Lurgan Town tá líne faoi leith i dtreo an deiridh: ‘D’iompaigh muid thart, chroith muid lámha, an méid is féidir a dhéanamh…’ Agus mé á chanadh in Ard Oifig an Phoist i mBaile Átha Cliath ar Luan Cásca, ba bheag gur shamhlaigh mé gurbh é garmhac Éamoin de Valera an fear a bheadh ag croitheadh láimhe liom ag an …

Cartoon – Loyal to whom?

Brian Spencer on April 22, 2014, 8:28 pm | Readers 88

Brian SpencerBrian is a writer, artist, political cartoonist and legal blogger. Actively tweeting from @brianjohnspencr. More information here: http://www.brianjohnspencer.com/ www.brianjohnspencer.com/

The Easter Rising: romance and regret but no barrier to reconciliation

Brian Walker on April 22, 2014, 12:18 am | Readers 339

in response to David McCann’s very personal and sincere post, I must say that the Rising is part of my history but not part of my cause. I approach it with fascination and regret. Regret for the delayed victory for physical force it represented. But how could it not inspire? The world was in turmoil; nothing would do but for the “Army of the Irish Republic” to start their own little war too. And of course the Jesus parallel and the martyrology still …

Signing up to the Covenant: An Alternative Vision for the Future?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on March 10, 2012, 7:10 pm | Readers 64

1912 A Hundred Years On - still

At Thursday night’s annual Catherwood Lecture, Johnston McMaster covered a lot of ground in his talk entitled Signing up to the Covenant: An Alternative Vision for the Future? He started by explaining that his grandfather had signed the covenant, and continued to question throughout the talk whether he would have signed it if he’d lived 100 years ago. Looking back at history and at the same time looking forward from today was a key tenet of his lecture, and mirrored …