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THE TAOISEACH HAS described visiting a Singapore site where his uncle was held as a prisoner of war during the Second World War as an “emotional experience”.
Micheál Martin toured Changi Chapel and Museum today on the final day of his four-day official visit to Singapore and Japan.
The museum tells the story of the prisoners of war and civilians interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945.
Martin’s uncle, Philip Martin, served in the British Military. He was captured by the Japanese army 1942 and imprisoned for three years until the camp was liberated in 1945.
His name is listed in the museum.
Speaking during his visit, Martin said: “I was very pleased to get the opportunity to come to Changi to the site of the prison where my uncle Philip spent a number of years here after the fall of Singapore. He was a prisoner of war.
“We were told a number of stories about how cruel and traumatic it was and how much weight they lost and so on, and all of that. But to actually be here and see his name on the screen is quite an emotional experience.”
More than 83,000 people, including soldiers and civilian men, women and children, were held captive in the prison.
The building has since been recreated as a visitor centre.
Later, the Taoiseach met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the city-state.
Martin said he received a “warm welcome” from the Prime Minister and described the meeting as “positive”.
The two leaders discussed economic, cultural and political relations, and opportunities, between Singapore and Ireland.
They also had an exchange on Singapore’s death penalty and LGBT rights.
In a post on social media, Martin said: “We discussed the great potential in the relationship between our two nations, and also Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, regional issues in Asia, EU-UK relations and climate change.”
The Taoiseach also attended a business lunch hosted by State agencies including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Bord Bia.
It was the first visit by a Taoiseach to Singapore since 2014.
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3 years in a Japanese POW camp, the poor man.
@Caroline Otoole: Wonder did Martin bring up the treatment of POWs when he visited Japan..Can’t recall Martin questioning the British government concerning the treatment of Republican prisoners under the British regime.
The British Army.
@Irish Opinion: You’re quick on the uptake tonight!
@Irish Opinion: Like a lot of Irish did at the time. No shame in it.
@Irish Opinion: yes just like tens of thousands of other Irishmen who served during WWII.
@Irish Opinion: so what, he had the b@lls to sign up to fight like so many Irishmen during that period.
@Mark Sheehan: some people would say any Irishman who joined the British army, no matter the century, is a traitor.
Although I wouldn’t agree with that.
@Irish Opinion: So why mention an opinion you disagree with?
@Irish Opinion: the whingers and haters weren’t long about jumping in.
It’s not like he was in the provisional IRA ffs.
@John Mulligan: Martin would never let him forget it ..Like he forgets the history of FF and the bank bailout, which never happened according to Martin.
@Donal Desmond: stay on topic there mate..
@Reg: plenty still signing up every month that’s one reason the irish army is struggling to fill vacancies
@Irish Opinion: well done. You read some of the article.
@Irish Opinion:
So what’s your opinion on Irish men who fought with the Brits pre 1921 and came home to train other Irish men to fight against the Brits for your freedom?
By the sounds of things you’ve never had to make the difficult decision to set your own feelings aside for the greater good of others in a far worse position than yourself.
Europe was overrun by the Germans and the yanks didn’t exactly have recruitment offices in Ireland or England, so please enlighten us as to where Irishmen could enlist to go and fight the fascists and their allies?
@Irish Opinion: while the rest of the world fought for our freedom we as a country sat on the fence playing both sides and even sending condolences to Germany after the demise of Adolf so hats off to any person who joined the fight , respect
@Wooden Spoon: No shame in fighting for the king of a foreign country, you mean being a mercenary?
@Irish Opinion: *the right side in this instance
@Ciaran: Just following Martin’s example…He has no problem in not sticking to the topic at hand.
This is the man who cancelled events to record the murder of Thomas MacSwinney, Thomas MacCuartan, the execution of Kevin Barry and the burning of Cork but still had time to whistle up the transport to attend a British army poppy event in Enniskillen.
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: Exactly
Between this performance today and the fly over by the raf you’d really have to wonder if the brits did leave Ireland
Can someone please pass me the sick bowl.
@Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: why?
Interesting in his timing, considering he never bothered before and now he is due to hand over the baton to Leo, one would think it was his final junket. Why not nail the taxpayer more?
Have we lost the plot. We are a community of 5 million people the planet has 8 billion people. Spin telling us our elected leader needs to be in Singapore for an important meeting to discuss matters like LGBT amongst others is good for us is surely a joke. Governments produce nothing and only are successful at one thing. Squandering the tax they collect. And taking away power from the people paying the taxes. We need to awaken.
@Tony Lewis: I’m no fan of Fianna Fail but if you think that improving LGBT rights around the world is not in our interest then yes, you are right, you have lost the plot.
@Nicholas McMurry: I belong to the LGTB community I can’t care less about the discussion of their rights in Singapore. There are tons of issues in this country which needs to be addressed, but yes, better to spend our taxpayers money for his holidays in Singapore.
@Nicholas McMurry:
Ireland has absolutely no clout on LBGT or any other issue in Singapore, so the purpose of could only have been to visit the POW camp where his uncle was interned, thus earning credibility with the UK/US military lobby. I’m sure a nice cushy job with the warmongers is looming.
He should have gone there on his own coin. personal trips paid by the over-taxed workers of this country. Or maybe he paid for it himself from the money that was” resting in his wife account”.
Jees the Martin Genes are strong ! Bulb
You wear a british uniform you are a british soldier.
Martin pathetically trying to drum up some sympathy.
I wonder if he flew business class..
Sure he’s a great little fella… I hope he didn’t cry, though there wouldn’t have been anything wrong about it if he had shed a few years about his soldier uncle who was bopping about in the forties …
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