Nobody has right to paint over our shared history
Two events today mark how far we’ve come as nation
In between his first term of office finishing at midnight on November 10 and being inaugurated for his second term of office in the Áras 16 hours later, the President elect only made one speech. This day two weeks ago, he delivered a powerful speech at the official State ceremonies in Glasnevin cemetery to mark the centenary of the end of World War One.
In the high tradition he has set for himself, it was a powerful, honest and evocative speech. Michael D Higgins spoke of a group of soldiers often forgotten – not those who died in WWI – but those who came back.
Despite some revisionist history of late that these men were treated well for the rest of their lives, President Higgins nailed this lie. ‘For many years,’ he said, ‘there was an uncertainty, even a reticience to recognise the human cost and reality of the First World War, and those who fought and died in it. In our public history, the reticence was reflected by a form of official amnesia that left a blank space in our public memory.’
While some historians have disputed this and point to remembrance services in the 1920s, they fail to remember that, for most of the last century, the Irish who fought in the war were forgotten.
Today at sunset, which is at 16 minutes past four, 16:16, a ‘stand down ceremony’ will be held in Dublin’s St. Stephen’s Green to mark the final day of the remarkable sculpture, The Haunting Soldier. This sunset ceremony was born out of public revulsion at the fact that last Thursday morning someone broke into the park and threw a can of red paint over the piece.
In many ways this was not unexpected – remember, someone threw a can of green paint over the remarkable memorial wall in Glasnevin cemetery. But the public reaction to the vandalism shows how far we have come as a country. Upon realising that today is the last time we will be able to see the 20-foothigh sculpture, here was a call for people to attend a ceremony this afternoon.
Coincidentally, today marks the end of another low key but equally evocative remembrance project across the city in St Audoen’s Park just down from Christ Church Cathedral.
This park – nearly 1,000 years old – is located beside the remarkable St Audoen’s church, which has a forgotten gem of a visitor centre .
Dublin City Council, without any fanfare, have decided to remember the 40 children killed in the Easter Rising by inscribing their individual names and ages into the new flagstones.
It will be the only place in the State where the 40 children are remembered and named together – and it has taken 102 years! The names will be spread around a beautiful water feature, with handcrafted seating in Irish oak. Unfortunately, the park has a history of vandalism but I think the dignity of the memorial, and high standard of the craftspeople involved, will evoke admiration.
The two events are a statement that, in the words of President Higgins, we can remember our ‘shared common humanity’ – which in truth must be the overarching motto as we set about commemorating some contentious historical events such as the War of Independence, Civil War and the formation of two states on this island.