Seán,
Ladies and gentlemen.
I am delighted to be here in the very fitting setting of the Glasnevin Museum for the launch of this special centenary edition of the Easter Commemoration Digest and I thank you, Seán, for inviting me to speak here this evening.
I was honoured to be asked to provide a foreword for the centenary edition of the Easter Commemoration Digest. It is a pleasure to be involved with such an important and timely publication. When Patrick McBrinn, Seán's father, first published the Digest in 1958, I wonder did he ever imagine that, a century on from the Rising, the Easter Commemoration Digest would play such a significant role in bringing the personal stories of those who participated in the tumultuous events of that period in our history, to a new audience today.
I'm sure he would be extremely proud of this publication and of Seán's dedication, energy and commitment in bringing this very personal project to fruition.
When I launched the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme last March, I did so as part of the Decade of Centenaries. The period from 1912 to 1922 was the single most important decade in modern Irish History – the one that laid the foundation of two States and radically altered the relationship between the island of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Within that time, there was one pivotal moment when a seed was sown and the old order changed forever. That moment was Easter 1916.
2016 will be a year for the Irish people, at home and around the world, to celebrate the centenary of the birth of our sovereign nation; when we honour the courage, idealism and dignity of those who sacrificed their lives and well-being so that the dream of freedom could become a reality; and when we reflect on our journey over the past 100 years and imagine our legacy for future generations.
‘The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is a personal invitation to everyone on the island of Ireland to become involved in a special way in the commemoration of this very significant anniversary. It is an invitation to reflect, be inspired and participate so that the events of 1916 will be brought to life in the most fitting tribute and made relevant and meaningful for people of all ages at home and abroad.
I was here in Glasnevin Cemetery on 1st August, for the State commemoration of the centenary of the funeral of Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, which was the first of the State ceremonial events of the 1916 Centenary Programme. The funeral of O'Donovan Rossa and Padraig Pearse's graveside oration was a pivotal event in the lead up to the 1916 Rising, which brought together the signatories of the Proclamation and many of those who went on to take part in the Rising. The State Ceremonial events are moments of national commemoration and solemn remembrance of the events of 1916 by the citizens of Ireland as the seminal episode in our modern history.
While the historians can provide us with the factual events of what happened in 1916, publications such as this one add layers to this narrative and help us to experience the events of that time through the personal journeys of those involved.
There are many different perspectives and views as to how the events of the 1916 Easter Rising, and all those whose lives were affected by those events, should be appropriately remembered. By focusing on personal observations and narratives and through the various debates and discussions which these provoke, we gain an insight into the aspirations and lives of the visionaries who shaped our nation and as well as people who were caught-up in a series of life altering events.
The ideals of religious and civil liberty, justice, equality, active citizenship and independence, for so many who fought and gave their lives, endure to inspire Irish people at home and around the globe to this day.
Historical reflection is a central strand of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and the Easter Commemoration Digest brings together many insightful articles about the history of the Rising and the leading figures of that time. The articles reproduced from previous editions also remind us of how far we have come in the last fifty years and how proud we can be as a nation to have progressed and embraced diversity while staying true to our founding ideals.
Reflecting on the past and understanding the significance and complexity of the events of 1916, can help us to forge a future for Ireland that is worthy of the sacrifice of those who fought and died during Easter week a century ago. While honouring the past and taking pride in our cultural legacy we must look to shape our collective futures based on the timeless principles of the 1916 Proclamation.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Seán Mc Brinn, for his kind invitation to be here on this very special occasion. I commend him for his great effort in completing his father's work with this very special publication, which will undoubtedly help to promote a greater understanding of our shared history and culture.
It is a very fitting tribute to Patrick and, indeed, to all who fought or lost their lives during the events of the 1916 Rising.
I wish Sean and all involved the very best with his book. Seán tells me that his youngest grand-daughter, Lily who is here today, has promised him that the 150th anniversary edition will be in safe hands!