Events at Easter
Commemoration
Madam, - The signatories of the Proclamation of
Independence must have been turning in their graves on
Easter Sunday last, at the way the Easter Rising
Commemorations were handled by the State this year.
A barrier over six feet high and covered in black heavy
plastic over steel fencing prevented most members of the
public from seeing anything of the ceremonies.
The small number of people who did get through to the
area near the GPO did so only by submitting to being
searched by the gardaí at the entrance to a
corral-type system of fencing.
I don't think this is what the aforementioned signatories
had in mind somehow!
However, the ironies don't stop there. I went along to
the commemorations and had a banner with me which called
for the protection of the Tara/Skryne Valley.
I stood, like most other people, outside the cordon, on
the Clerys side of O'Connell Street.
The cordon was a lot taller than I am, so I couldn't see
anything, but I held the Tara banner over my head and it
could be seen inside the cordon.
I was there only a short time when three gardaí
and a plainclothes policeman came over to me, looked at
the banner and demanded that I put it down.
I stated my objection that I wasn't doing anything
unlawful but he continued insisting that I put down the
banner or move along off O'Connell Street.
When I asked what would happen if I stayed holding the
banner, I was told I would be forcibly removed ie,
arrested. I could not believe this was happening. While
this was occurring, the Proclamation was read out and the
National Anthem sung from the podium.
It would be funny if it wasn't so frightening,
undemocratic and farcical that the very land which the
signatories fought to free is now being destroyed, not by
any occupying force, but by our own Irish Government, and
that Irish citizens who try to publicise or object to
this, are being threatened with arrest.
I sincerely hope that the people of Tibet are not in any
way depending on the present Irish Government to support
them in their search for their human rights.
- Yours, etc,
Terri Murray,
The Anchorage,
Bettystown,
Co. Meath.
© The Irish Times, 27th. March 2008.
