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PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has laid a wreath at the State’s official commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Fenian leader O’Donovan Rossa.
Several other politicians also attended the event at Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin, including Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Arts Minister Heather Humphreys.
Kenny described O’Donovan Rossa as “an iconic figure in Irish history”.
“Even one hundred years after his death his name is synonymous with the Fenians and with Irish nationalism.”
The liberation of his country became his life’s ambition. His funeral remains one of the pivotal moments in Irish history and was an occasion that would be hugely instrumental in shaping the future of our nation.
There was a re-enactment of Pádraig Pearse’s iconic graveside oration.
John Green, chair of the Glasnevin Trust, said the oration is “a masterpiece which invoked the passions of the past and laid bare the task ahead”.
Humphreys noted that today marks the official start of the ceremonial calendar in the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, which is leading up to the commemoration of the 1916 Rising.
“The funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, which took place here in Glasnevin Cemetery 100 years ago today, acted as a catalyst in the lead up to the Rising. The now famous graveside oration, given by Pádraig Pearse, left a lasting impact and travelled far beyond the confines of this cemetery,” Humphreys said.
A separate re-enactment of the funeral is being held by Sinn Féin this afternoon.
Originally published: 13.12
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Oh FFS, can we not ALL just enjoy what those who fought and died for 100yrs ago, did for our country.
The petty bickering from ALL sides of the political divide, is pathetic.
There are plenty of other opportunities for us all to take swipes at each other, but why devalue this.
A poor, dull statement by the Prime Minister deserves scrutiny. I’m not pointing that out because of my political views but because of my respect for odonovan
It’s the standard MO of the constantly outraged!
Kenny described O’Donovan Rossa as “an iconic figure in Irish history”.
I doubt he’d be at his grave with the president of our country laying a wreath if he wasn’t.
For Fianna Fáil’s Sake!!!
This is a web based open forum, nothing more.
My god mk76 said something sensible thats a first._.
Was there my self had a great day to all that participated well done.Also well done sf._.
They do this oration several times a day on the Glasnevin tour. Worth doing if you haven’t done so.
Nice to know they spruced it up for the occasion
Kenny is not fit to wipe the great man’s boots.
Still not paying.
Do SF own the copyright on the word Republican?
They think they do.
Well Kenny treats the word with contempt.
Check out Leo Varadakar’s re tweets from today! He seemed to more concerned about one wrong libe of detail by Sinn Fein that the anniversary itself!!
None of these parties or polticians deserve to be near these men and women’s graves.
If British nationalism (as espoused by the Brutoniser) were to be as revised as its Irish counterpart then an interesting level of debate might ensue. To give a quick synopsis, British nationalism requires Ireland to be the fourth pole in the compass of British identity. It hurts their soul for it to be otherwise. The reason they so often claim individuals with little or no attachment to their nationalism is that they are so attached to the symmetry their fairytale implies The fact that this jurisdiction was neutral in WW2, has sent no troops to assist in any expedition of the British state since the end of WW1 while the colonies (Aus, NZ, Can, India, SA, and the rest) sacrificed their best and brightest well into the sixties. We fought an economic war in the thirties, were an irritant in every international forum, were the only European country to oppose the Falklands war, and were the only European country to ever burn down a British Embassy has never registered, probably never will. Our own homegrown British Nationalists have a slightly different agenda. Some want to wear their Grandfathers regimental tie, to parade along whichever highway they see fit. To secretly consider that their loyalty might, in time, yield some letters they can put after their name, or, whisper it, a title before. Some of our own British nationalists think that by decrying any and all national self-regard they have moved beyond Nationalism itself, while parroting BNP pamphlets, but then the Sunday independent needs to fill those columns.
Republicans are vermin, they tore this country apart.
Reg the tricolour did fly over the GPO during the Rising. Sorry to burst your historically inaccurate bubble!
vinnymurphy.blogspot.com/2011/06/1916-easter-rising-tricolour-on-loan-to.html?m=1
Thought it was a green flag with the words Irish Tepublic on it that flew?
It was both. (As per eye witnesses)
An Argentinian raised the tricolour over the GPO would you believe. Eduardo “Eamon” Bulfin was born and raised in Buenos Aires, the son of an Irish emigrant from Offaly.
Interesting article here: http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-on-argentina-s-link-to-1916-1.2208410
Yep it was both!
Great to see this Irish Patriot remembered. A man who suffered for his beliefs and remained true to his principles.
Wonder if anyone in a 100 yrs will fondly remember the contributions of our current crop of politicians?
Proud of their legacy?
Still the pensions will sooth their consciences, no doubt!
Iconic, is that the best you could come up with Enda? Iconic.
Jesus give it a rest!
Give it a rest? I’m well within my rights to point out a terrible choice of words used by a terrible prime minister to describe an Irish patriot
Why should we give it a rest.. Enda is a loon and is pretending he gives a $Hite
I’m not an Enda fan but I am amused at the irony of being affronted by his use of Iconic from ‘PoliticallyOriented’ referring to him as a ‘prime minister’. Last I heard he was still An Taoiseach :-) Terrible choice of words indeed.
Btw, nothing personal – it’s just appeals to my sense of humour
Wiklagirl. They mean the same !
@Politically Oriented There is a word to describe you and your ilk,a two syllable word first syllable GOB.
Gus. No they don’t !
They really don’t Gus
Photo 8 illustrating this story shows three Army privates marching smartly as cemetery staff in working clothes (gravediggers etc.) smile and admire in the background. They are the real workers all year round in Glasnevin – the Irish proletariat for whom Pearse and especially Connolly intended the Irish revolution. Alas poor Yorick – the bankers never knew him.
With the exception of Connolly most of them didn’t give a damn about the proletariat and were disdainful of socialism. The ideas of international solidarity and class struggle were inimical to the aims of nationalism.
Internationalism has been the death knell of the left all over Europe.
Trying to solve every problem at once and often not bothering with issues at in their own respective nations.
Shame on the president and government they have no place there putting anything on a TRUE LEADER OF THE PEOPLE AND NATION GRAVE THEY SHOULD BOW THERE HEADS IN SHAME THE LYING CORRUPT SELL OUTS
THE BLOCK CAPS PROVE IT
Any man who has had three wives and eighteen kids is a hero in my book too. God knows how he found the time for anything else……
Take it down front the mast Irish traitors. It’s the flag us Republicans claim. It can never belong to freestaters. For you’ve brought on it nothing but shame.
Don’t recall the tricolour flying over the GPO during the rising?
Says ‘Shawn’ – is there no Irish where you’re from Séan?
Have you not noticed my comment isn’t in Irish either.
Oops! I forgot to mention, your fada in in the wrong place!
Then you should read Tim Pat Coogan’s book about the Rising, which has a description and pictorial evidence of both the Tricolour and the green flag with the words ‘Irish Republic’ emblazoned on it flying over the GPO.
Shawn is an english name. And indeed you’re correct with the mis placed sine fáda mhaith an fear.. Nothing wrong with an english name sure is there now an Phadraic plaisteach?
No it’s not. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_(given_name)
Those sad bunch of gits in RTE are tring to report that Kenny and Higgins organised today’s re-enactment of O Donovon Rossas funeral and the thousands of people attending – they did not mention Sinn Fein- Lol-
Kenny and Higgins could not organise a piss up in a brewery -
They didn’t report that at all. The said SF organised a separate event which consisted of the reenactment of the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa. Having attended today, SF did put on a seriously good show. Really made you proud to be Irish
Was Coveney there. The Minister for the Testing of Weapons Systems in Ireland?
You misspelled “Defence”
I see the usual trolls are out in force, you know the type (my girlfriend left me, the dog died it’s Enda Kenny’s fault). They can’t even give it a rest when a dead patriot is being honoured. It’s all a bit tiresome really.
funny how nationalism is now almost a dirty word yet emotions stir at times such as these.rossa was very obviously supernationalisitic.he could never have envisioned how our country has turned out..for better or worse is a matter of opinion.. I look like to think rossa was just an older version of Brendan hughes
I see he had 3 wives and 18 children. Two,of his wives were barely a year dead when he remarried.
He must have a lot of ancestors.
Never realised Gerry Adams was starring in the sound of music !
Not like SF, who were formed in 1971, to indulge in populism and claim exclusive rights to the 1916 rising..!!!
SF was founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith
Which SF was that Toddis? Official SF or Repubican SF? The fact is that the original SF which had Dev as its president because FF. Since then others have laid claim to the historic SF name. I am also delighted that yesterday’s PR stunt by the later-day SF got the media attention it deserves which is next to none.
You’d wanna check your “facts”. Griffith in 1905 is fact. As for your reference to publicity stunts, SF commemorate the rising and hunger strikers and other events like them every year. But SF are hijacking events supposedly? If you feel strongly about this issue please take your compliant to the ombudsman for unfounded hot headed rants. Nice talking, Steve. TAL
love how enda and co. commemorate a man who led a bombing campaign in England, confused much ?
If as the headline suggests ‘the liberation of his country became his life’s ambition’ … I wonder how Scotland will view Alex Salmond in one hundred years from now.
As far as I know Alex Salmond hasn’t lived through a horrific famine that wiped out hundreds of thousands of the people of his country, O’Donovan Rossa did he would have seen during his formative years as well so I don’t think you’ve a very good comparison in those two nationalists there Chris they were come from completely different eras and lead very different lives.
That is your opinion fiachra, I know that some of my own ancestors went to Britain during the famine to make a better life for themselves. I also know that an ancestor of mine died from typhus fever in 1848 which was then widespread in Britain and Ireland.
The comparison of O’Donavan Rossa and Alex Salmond was to show that champions of freedom and liberty remain in all generations. I dare say that there were famines in Scotland too and certainly where present conditions prevail of homelessness and food banks in Scotland there are comparisons to be drawn.
Ócáid mhór I mBaile Átha Cliath inniú . Tá mórtas cine ionainn fós !
Hitler’s ambition was world dominance. Sure ambition is a great thing altogether.
Mike Godwin wins again
I predicted that every time Hitler is mentioned that there is a good chance that Godwin will also be mentioned. I am correct once again.
Tap you forgot the comma after ‘mentioned.’
That will make our loss of sovereignty to the Troika all the better now or hide it at least?
Sinn Fein parading through the streets of Dublin, feigning ownership of this centenary, masking their terrorism in the clothes of patriots makes me ill.
Pearse was a babe. Totally would.
You’re probably too old for him.
I’m sick of this crap that ‘Sinn Fein have hijacked the name of Republicanism’. I firmly believe that O Donovan Rossa would be turning in his grave seeing Enda and Co standing at his graveside lamenting the loss of our Bold Fenian Men when they have betrayed everything that both him and those beside him in Glasnevin stood and died for. Sinn Fein are the only party in Ireland to not abandon it’s people or go back on its principles, say what you will but you know that’s the truth.
Time to give us a break from this stuff!
Impressive re enactment – well done to all involved- a shame the State could not have put a bit of effort like SF did.
They are a awful annoying bunch of flippers
Is that last picture a portrait of the Von Trapp family? LOL
Organised by Sinn Fein.
The espousal of militarism as represented in this odd type of re-enactment can only lead to the opening of wounds best left closed. As a people we have learned nothing if we cannot see that the involvement of the army in emotive historical moments do very little for us that simple civil ceremonies couldn’t achieve. If this is what lies ahead of us in the next months, then I can see the spectre of strife and bombastic political oneupmanship as the only legacy that the commemoration of ’16 will bring.
Yes, let’s commemorate, but let’s find something that is inclusive and of the people, and let’s leave the military and the divisions caused by extremist language out of it. The commemoration should be about the context of the foundation of our nation, and not an opportunity for the “lads” to re-emerge with their bar room divisiveness such as yesterday’s double re-enactments represent.
Good to see SF involved now because they did not take part in 1916
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