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TODAY MARKS THE one hundredth anniversary of the execution of Roger Casement at Pentonville Prison in London.
Casement, one of the foremost Irish humanitarians of his time, was executed following a trial for his role in the 1916 Rising, a role which ended with his capture off of a German submarine at Banna Strand, Co Kerry, in April 1916. Together with Thomas Kent he was the only one of the Rising’s leaders to be executed outside of Dublin.
The commemoration, one of the last ceremonies marking the centenary of the Rising, that was held for Casement this morning at Glasnevin Cemetery, his final resting place, was by turns sombre and uplifting.
Like most of the Rising leaders, Casement was a complex character. Born in Ireland, to an Anglo-Irish family, he was briefly brought up in England before the death of his parents saw him move to live with his uncle in Antrim.
Thereafter, he spent much of his career working for the British government, documenting humanitarian abuses by colonists in Africa and South America, before finding himself engaged by Irish nationalism in the lead up to the Rising.
His capture in Kerry stemmed from an attempt on his part to ship German arms (Germany being at war with Britain at the time) into Ireland in advance of the hostilities in Dublin, a plan that never came to fruition.
At this morning’s commemoration, transcripts of Casement’s trial were read to the large crowd gathered in a seemingly neverending drizzle by Defence Forces Commandant Tommy Martin:
“Roger Casement, how say you, do you plead guilty or not guilty to the high treason alleged in the indictment?”
Sir Roger Casement: ‘Not guilty’.
Speeches were made by Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and Fr Gerry McFlynn of the Irish Chaplaincy in London.
Flanagan described the “generosity of spirit and selflessness” which caused Casement to take a central role in the Irish independence movement.
“Casement’s life… has had a profound impact on the unfolding of history on this island over the past hundred years,” the minister said.
It is very important that we have come together to remember (him) today, to honour his memory and to reflect on his life on the centenary of his execution and to do this in the company of his family.
Flanagan then laid a wreath on Casement’s grave, together with the revolutionary’s great, great, great grand-nephew (or great, great, great grand-cousin once removed if we’re being entirely accurate) Niall Casement.
The ensuing minute’s silence and piper’s lament, not to mention the driving rain, lent a sombre and poignant air to a sad, but also hopeful, morning.
Having been executed at Pentonville, Casement was repatriated to Glasnevin in 1965. His heartfelt wish had been to be buried in Antrim – however this wasn’t deemed prudent at the time given the tensions being seen in the north.
“It’s certainly much more fitting than Pentonville,” Niall Casement said in the aftermath of the ceremony regarding Casement’s final resting place.
Niall described a youth spent hearing about his famous relative, “growing up discovering more about him and hearing the family talk about him”.
“He was certainly very openly talked about by the family,” he said.
Questioned about his relative’s homosexuality, a fact that was used against him to a great extent by the British Crown during his trial, Niall replied “I don’t think it really has any relevance, certainly not from his family’s point of view”.
Any divide in the family was far more to do with politics, and that has long since washed away, I don’t think his sexuality has any relevance at all now really.
Following the ceremony, Flanagan unveiled a plaque bearing Casement’s profile at the cemetery’s visitor centre, which joins those of the other Rising leaders which have already been added in this centenary year.
Afterwards we spoke to Flag Officer Ashley O’Connor from nearby Phibsborough, the leader of today’s Guard of Honour, a role he has spent the last three weeks preparing for.
By impressive coincidence, Ashley’s grandfather, himself a former officer in the Defence Forces, served in the guard that brought Casement to Glasnevin 51 years ago from Pentonville.
“I’m very proud to represent him at this,” he said.
He gave up a lot, they all gave up a lot for us.
A hundred years on, that’s always worth remembering.
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R.I.P.
When Bowies creative output started to suffer in the 80′s, Prince came in and filled that void magnificently. I always viewed Prince in similar terms to Bowie in the way they challenged the mainstream constantly with their music and image. One crumb of comfort can be taken from his premature demise and that is the thousands of unreleased material he wrote over the years and which fans can look foward to hearing in the future.
On probably his worst album ‘Never Let Me Down’, Bowie sang the line : “The Little Red Corvette has passed me by” …
‘Least greatest’ album I think is more appropriate :)
What is the obsession with celebrities when they pass away?We should be mourning scientists,Doctors,professors and not musicians.A note in a newspaper is worthy,but countless stories one after the other is not on.We are taught to worship these people now and obsess.Sad day man passess away,hey over it.it Sums up society today,willfully ignorant and brainwashed by tv and radio.
You didnt have to pay attention to the article’s on him you know, you have a choice here Lee.
Says Lee Oswald
Yes but you know I have to give my 2 cents here…if I don’t highlight the pure ignorance and lack of common sense who else will?
What’s up Elma?
Musicians of this magnitutde are mourned simply because music means so very much to people; we grow with it, it grows with us, it relieves our stress, it gives us emotional release and it has very positive influences on our energy, body and brain. Prince was a musical genius, many people are upset, obviously not you Lee but thats okay. Maybe you’ve never heard music before
The reason for this is that more people would find Purple Rain to be more emotional and uplifting than Panck’s Constant.
Says the lad called after a dead Assassin????
I think if you did a wee bit of research you would realise I was not an assassin.I had a poor shot ,I could not off pulled of the assassination due to this fact.But you believe the Warren commission,which in itself was flawed from the day it was set up.
Back and to the left, back and to the left.
I sense a slight bit of sarcasm there Elma…The fact is shots could not be done in the time scale suggested.
I’m actually with you on this one tbh.
Thank you Elma,I’m not saying I was not involved.But I certainly did not act alone.I never got the call…
Is this worthy of a separate news story?
Maybe not, but the people who own the website think so, and it’s a free world.
Using your thumbs as a guide, it would appear about 80% thinkn yes it is.
“One day of seven we’ll die”
Gotta get those clicks
Goodnight sweet Prince
RTE government and cronie buddies would not represent the independent freedom loving Prince. They might like his music but they certainly wouldn’t be down with his stances on position on certain things. Might I suggest that PrimeTime do a piece on Chemtrails a subject which Prince was vocal about ???
Maybe they could have played ” something in the water does not compute”…
I agree Mr mango…but as you can see from all the red thumbs you are gettingn most people like to be spoon Fed from the likes of rte news.They hold comfort in their Irish independent,rte news and mor ing Ireland lol.Over educated but lack independent thought and the will to question authority.
Mass media educated sheeple, fleeced of free thought, and totally oblivious to the wool being pulled down over their eyes.
Good work RTE. good work
Thats cool,Prime Time taking a leaf outta Newsnight’s book with a lighter credits and a nice music tribute. Too many rte shows are too stiff and serious
Prince, like most of us like minded, would spit on Rte and it’s lie through omission policies. Prime time is a gate keeper like the war on drugs. They proclaim to be tackling the problem when they really are helping guide the outrage which is the brainwashed masses goto first emotion in reaction to the corruption of their overlords. But even Prince’s soul can’t replace the ones Rte & it’s minions already sold to the devil.!
Surprised anyone in RTE has enough soul to appreciate Prince. Disturbing to realise I have something in common with the government droids in Donnybrook
I wonder did David McCullogh manage to stay awake to hear the tune?
They should have faded the music in rather than just blasting it straight out. It’s a nice sentiment all the same.
Pity RTE is shite for the vast majority of the time.
Last weekthe bodies of two more young males were fished out of Galway Bay and Leo the Loo Head has decided he can afford to tske €14m from mental health.There are plenty more tragedies closer to home Prime Time could theme song, maybe “Suicide is Painless”.but of course it’s not, neither is is victimless.
Prince was a fan of Dick Gregory. He had strong opinions about society and politics and would not have been a fan of state owned and government controlled propaganda tv.
And I’m sure he would appreciate you hijacking the fact they played his music to commemorate his death as an excuse to have a rant. Not.
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