100: Easter Rising

From the BBC:
"Easter Rising: Michael D Higgins takes part in Dublin remembrance ceremony"

 

Irish president Michael D Higgins has laid in wreath at a remembrance ceremony held in the Republic of Ireland to mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. The ceremony is part of a series of commemoration events this weekend. Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny and Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Joan Burton were also at the ceremony. The president met relatives of those involved in the events of the Rising at a state event on Saturday.  The Easter Rising was a rebellion held in April 1916 to overthrow British rule in Ireland. It was unsuccessful but is seen as a significant stepping stone to the eventual creation of the Republic of Ireland and the partition of Ireland.   The wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday took place at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin. The memorial garden is dedicated to people who fought for Irish independence from Britain.  The event began with a performance of The Parting Glass, a traditional Irish song, sung by the Island of Ireland Peace Choir.  After a wreath was laid by President Higgins, a minute's silence was observed. Relatives of 78 people who died during the Rising were also at the event and were invited to lay wreaths after the state ceremony had ended. The event is part of the Republic of Ireland's official commemoration programme.   Thousands of people are expected to take part in events throughout the Republic leading up to an Easter Centenary Parade on Sunday. In an interview with the BBC, President Higgins said the Republic's approach to the rising's centenary was one of "ethical sensitivity" and that the event was of "immense significance".

 

 

^ This is basically Ireland's Lexington and Concord (from the US Revolution) and so it is only fitting that the Irish remember the 100th anniversary that saw part of Ireland gain it's freedom. The British treated all of Ireland and the Irish as their slaves for hundreds of years - using barbaric methods to starve them, openly discriminated against them and used murderous squads like the Black and Tans to terrorize the Irish) and then the Irish finally had had enough and wanted their freedom. This was sparked by the Easter Rising of 1916 and would lead to Ireland becoming a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire (like Canada and Australia) in 1921 and then eventually to a complete separation from the British when they became a Republic in 1949. The British continued their "old" practices in the part of Ireland they kept and called Northern Ireland. Those practices (along with their 3 tier system where the British - ie. English, Welsh and Scottish - were at the top, the Irish Protestants came next and at the bottom were the Irish Catholics) led to The Troubles (with its' bombings, violence and deaths)which officially lasted from 1969 to 1998 which saw Northern Ireland occupied by the British Military and where the basic civil rights of the Irish Catholics were ignored until the Good Friday Accords of 1998. Some will see this 100th anniversary as a way to unite all of Ireland (the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.) I don't know if that is a good idea (and I say that as a person with a Catholic parent and a Protestant parent and also Irish, Scottish and English roots.) I would have definitely said "yes' to a united Ireland with the British completely out during The Troubles, but now that everyone in Northern Ireland finally has an equal chance (and they can get both Irish and British citizenship if they want) I'm not so sure. Regardless, the 1916 Easter Rising should be remembered by everyone: Irish from the Republic, Irish from Northern Ireland and the British. The ruthless treatment of innocent people should never be forgotten. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35903728