LETTER TO THE EDITOR
1916 Martyrs used by politicians to secularise Easter.We are somewhat confused to see elected public representatives commemorating the “anniversary” of the 1916 Easter Rising on the same day when Irish Christians celebrate Easter Sunday, the holiest day of the Christian calendar.
It’s as if secular politicians in Ireland are not only attempting to appropriate Saint Brigid’s Day but also now to own Easter for themselves. You see, the cause of our confusion is founded on the fact that the martyrs of 1916 chose Easter Monday to launch their brave and heroic uprising against the British occupying force, not EASTER SUNDAY. On Easter Sunday’s RTE News, the reported described the commemoration as taking place “over the Easter weekend” which is factually incorrect.
To see politicians, many who remind us frequently about the separation of Church and State and to see the Irish Army march past the GPO, Dublin on our holiest Christian celebration of Easter is not separation of Church and State - it is the State making a deliberate attempt to appropriate Christian Heritage for their own secular, self promotion.Then we must also consider the religious backgrounds of the Proclamation signatories.
Almost all signatories had a strong Christian Faith.
By commemorating our fallen 1916 heroes on Easter Sunday and not on Easter Monday is both insensitive to Irish Christians and to the memory of our 1916 heroes. Locally, we witnessed Sinn Fein commemorate the “anniversary” of the 1916 Easter Rising on Holy Saturday in Dungarvan Town Park.
Again, a sacred Christian day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, a time of deep silence, reflection, and quiet hope in the Christian tradition. It commemorates the moment when Jesus Christ lay in the tomb after His crucifixion, and the world waited in stillness before the miracle of the Resurrection.Yet, a political party, chose Holy Saturday, a day of silent reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to hold a “parade” to “commemorate” the 1916 Rising even though Easter Monday, the actual day of the 1916 anniversary is a Bank holiday.
Maybe 2027 will see secular politicians respect Christians and truly separate Church and State and respect Christians and their Sacred celebrations into the future?
Tom Doherty
