Irish 'Martyrs'

At the top of Inchicore Road, Dublin, where I used to live, is Kilmainham Gaol, a significant place in Ireland's history. When I was living in Dublin, I took the tour of the Gaol one afternoon and it was fascinating. I can highly recommend it to any visitors to (or even residents of) Dublin.

This piece of art, across the road, is a memorial to the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising; they were captured and imprisoned in Kilmainham, and all but one were executed. Éamon de Valera, the only survivor thanks to his US passport, went on to become both Taoiseach and President of the Republic of Ireland.

The fourteen figures stand, blindfolded, and facing a table upon which is inscribed the text of the Proclamation of Poblacht na hÉireann, the provisional government of the Irish Republic, to the people of Ireland. It was signed by Thomas J Clarke, Sean Mac Diarmada, Thomas MacDonagh, Pádraig Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, James Connolly, and Joseph Plunkett.

I live in a place where people are continuing their struggle for independence and freedom, long after my family and neighbours gained theirs. For many reasons, people balk at the language of 'martyrs' which is so-often used by Palestinians. But, in a few short years, many Irish people will celebrate the centenary of the quashed 1916 rebellion and remember the achievements of our own martyrs.

Pause for thought.