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A REGULATOR HAS upheld complaints that advertisements around a 1916 exhibition organised by Sinn Féin were in breach of standards for not clarifying that it would include a section on the 1980s hunger strikes.
Complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) said that they were surprised to find a section on the 1980-1981 H-Block Hunger Strikers, as this part of the exhibition had not been referenced in the advertising material.
They considered that it was inappropriate to link those who fought in 1916 with the hunger strikers of the 1980s and misleading to disclude it from the advertisement.
The adverts were carried on Ticketmaster.ie and in two print publications.
Three complaints were also received saying attendees had no prior indication that the exhibition had been organised by Sinn Féin or that a political party would benefit from its profits.
These complaints weren’t upheld by the ASAI, who said that the party did not financially benefit, and that there was no obligation for all involved in the exhibition to be identified in third party advertising.
The adverts
The press advertisement, which was accompanied by pictures of some of the Leaders of the 1916 Rising and the tricolour, referred to the following:
Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Already seen by over 40,000 people
Revolution 1916
Original & Authentic Exhibition
Ambassador Theatre O’Connell Street…
The advertisement said that the exhibition would feature “a collection of 1916 artefacts, with over 500 items on display”, including an original 1916 Proclamation, uniforms from the Irish Volunteers, Cumann na mBan and na Fianna, and weapons from 1916. No mention was made of the Hunger Strikes exhibition.
In their response to the complaints, advertisers said that the press release was not meant to be the definitive guide to the contents of the exhibition, “but its purpose had been rather to whet the appetite and consumers were then invited to visit www.revolution1916.ie to access further information on the exhibition”.
Despite this, the Committee considered that if the advertisers were using, or referencing specific events from modern day history, that this should have been referenced in the main copy of the advertising.
This should have been done “to allow those interested in attending the exhibition to make an informed choice as to whether or not they wished to do so”.
It concluded that this advertisement should not be used in the same format again.
The ASAI is financed by the advertising industry and committed, in the public interest, to “promoting the highest standards of marketing communications”, ensuring that they are “legal, decent, honest and truthful”.
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I always wondered who are these folks who complain. Is there some secret society out there who are constantly on the look out for issues to moan about who have a secret handshake and in their spare time listen to Joe Duffy…….
I have never sent a complaining letter or email in my life, but I’d be a bit p1ssed off if I went to an exhibition expecting to see the history of my proud independent country, but ended up being shown a tribute to the IRA hunger strikers.
Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, even if you don’t share it, Seán.
The ASAI used to publish the names and address of the complainant and it was nearly always the same few people all of the time.
I’d be embarrassed for you that you failed to see the connection
Michael there is no connection. Sinn Fein of 1916 has nothing to do with Sinn Fein of today.
That’s why they are known as the Provos . Read some history. Sinn Fein of 1916 stayed as official ira and Sinn Fein up to 1969/70 then sinn fein the workers party then workers party then that split and most members set up democratic left in 1992 which merged with Labour in 1999. So if anything Labour have a stonger link to sinn fein of 1916
Sinn fein of today only came about in 1969 so has no relevance to 1916
Jim, you might be surprised to find that the IRA hunger strikers are part of this countries troubled history and always will be.
@Greg Kelly:
Today’s Sinn Fein might not be anything like the Sinn Fein of 1916.
But one thing is for sure, Fine Gael are the same fascist Blueshirt party from the 1930′s. Rich landlords to whom everyone else is merely riff-raff.
Well SF were always going to try to paint themselves as hero’s of everything. Not surprised.
Clown
Hello Mr Shinner. How goes the war?
Good at re-writing history as well.
@Eye_c_u: Big big difference in what happened in 1916 and the modern day carry on of Terrorists.
Both were regarded as terrorists in their day. Your point?
1916 insurgents were only regarded as terrorists for a very short while Sinn Fein IRA will always be remembered as Terrirists
It’s a great exhibition in fairness. I’d check it out before it closes. And even if you don’t connect 1916 to the troubles it’s still worth checking that part out too. The mural @ the entrance of ambassador is v cool.
It finished its run a couple of weeks ago.
Run it again so. I haven’t seen it, would like to see it.
Great publicity this for it. Should reopen.
Fantastic exhibition, well done to the organisers, and we’ll worth seeing. The hunger strike section covers all Irish republican hunger strikes including that of Terence MacSwiney, Frank Stagg and the 10 who died in 1981. It’s right that their stories are told also, that through their selfless actions they should be revered like those of 1916.
Don’t forget the most famous hunger striker of them all: Bobby Sands.
Would you revere him more for the successful bombing of the Balmoral furniture shop; his clever planning of a civilian target during busy shopping hours resulting in the deaths of 2 babies, or for the manner in which he bravely ran away afterwards?
Jim Brady, the Balmoral shop in the shankill was bombed in 1971, resulting in the deaths of 2 adults and 2 children. Bobby Sands was arrested close to where the Balmoral shop in Dunmurry was bombed in 1976. Try to get your facts right Jim.
Jim you are either intentionally lying on here or else you haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. Bobby Sands hadn’t even joined the IRA at that stage but don’t let facts get in the way of your lying little story, pathetic!
@PaulJ:
Raymond McCreesh was involved in the Kingsmills massacre.
@Ciarán: Willie Frazer said so, so it must be true!!!
@Andrew Corcoran:
The Historical Enquiries Team said so.
It most certainly should have listed that it was organised by a political party. The linking of 1916 and Northern troubles isn’t comfortable for alot of people. Mind you look at the politics we elect.
They were, rightly or wrongly, fighting for Irish freedom just like they were in 1916. The men of 1916 were spat on and jeered as they were brought to Kilmainham.
And, by their own lights, so were lots of other people, from Redmond to the lunatics in the Real IRA. Sinn Fein are entitled to their view of history, but they are not entitled to a monopoly on it.
Indeed they were but the executions changed that Pearse and Co surprisingly enough knew the effect of the blood sacrifice would have on the people of Ireland By the time the War of Independence happen nationalist were in the majority in ROI unlike the anti democratic actions of Sinn Fein/IRA in the North
How was fighting in 1916 any different to The Troubles? The hypocrisy of celebrating one (just because we learned about it in history books) while condemning the other is plain for all to see.
You’d have to wonder how you’d have reacted if the county you lived in was gerrymandered into a sectarian, apartheid unionist state.
I can guess where the complaints came from.
I can understand people being a bit miffed about it being run by a political party but I cannot understand people being put off by the hunger strikers part of the exhibition. How can be so arrogant down here to celebrate our fight for freedom but look at the fight for freedom up North as dirty. When the men and women went out and fought for freedom in 1916, they certainly didn’t fight for a partioned Ireland. Then as Catholics and nationalists in Northern Ireland where treated like second class citizens and eventually started to be burned out of their own homes in the 1960′s, are people actually saying they hadn’t a legitimate reason to fight for their freedom? Come on!
@Roisin Connolly:
Most of the people who opposed the Stormont Unionist government campaigned against it peacefully. Unfortunately, internment and Bloody Sunday caused a surge in membership of the Provisional IRA.
Of all the things to get upset about.. Patetic
Pathetic indeed.
I think it’s closed now
It was a shite exhibition anyway!
Why commemorate a lost cause?
MM and EK do it quite well every year no?
to regard 1916 as a lost cause implies a lack of understanding of the situation .Pearse and Co knew a blood sacrifice might incite the Irish People into action.This sacrifice worked.
I am surprised that people beforehand didn’t realise it was a Sinn Fein propaganda exercise at trying to link the original SF party led Griffiths to the modern party led by Gerry Adams.
I bet it didn’t explain how Griffiths and Collins accepted the Treaty document in London which led to civil war in the free state.
It is hypocritical to try and separate the actions of the 1916 gunmen and the actions of modern-day terrorists. Both groupings try and impose their will on the will of the people through violent methods.
@Paddy Lions…..and against the darling peaceful little British too.
@Pádraig Ó Braonáin: What about? The reply of the child or the idiot.
Paddy, for centuries the British imposed their will on the will of the Irish people through violent methods. Resistance is a reaction to oppression Paddy.
@Andrew Corcoran: History should be judged in the context of the time. People should acquaint themselves with the social and political history of the UK as a whole, as well as Europe and the greater world.
I saw that exhibition. I didn’t mind the hunger strike section.
However in total it was a truly terrible exhibition.
The artefacts were cheap and uninteresting. There was far too much text on the wall – if I want to read a Wikipedia article then I don’t want to pay 15 euro for it. There were spelling mistakes in the text – who was Hueston for example.
Why should any play to see a plaster replica of Kilmainham Jail when you can see the real thing a few kilometres away.
Any why was the Ambassadior allowed as a venue – broken toilet seats and filthy carpets included.
I expect Sinn Fein were trying to recreate conditions in Long Kesh by filling the walls with nothing but shite !
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