FIANNA FÁIL figures are claiming the Government is “downgrading” the 1916 Easter Rising centenary by focusing on a decade of commemorations including the Battle of the Somme and the Lock-Out.
Seán Fleming TD has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of “setting out to crowd out 1916” because Fine Gael has “a different tradition”.
Mr Fleming, who was suspended from the Dáil this week after prolonged criticism about hospital closures, said many Fianna Fáil people had been offended by an element in Mr Kenny’s “otherwise excellent” speech at the inauguration of President Michael D Higgins.
In the course of the speech delivered in Dublin Castle last Friday, Mr Kenny outlined a series of commemorations which would be overseen by Mr Higgins during his tenure in office.
“Ireland will mark the centenary of various versions of what and who we have been: the Lock-Out; the Easter Rising; the first World War; the Battle of the Somme,” the Taoiseach said.
Mr Fleming said 1916 was being portrayed by Mr Kenny as “one celebration in a number of celebrations”. Mr Fleming said he believed it was inappropriate, although he acknowledged Mr Kenny and the Fine Gael party came from “a different tradition”.
“He’s setting out to crowd out 1916. That’s maybe fair enough from some people’s point of view but not from where I’m coming from,” Mr Fleming said.
“There is an effort to downgrade 1916 by this Government. Most people would have thought 1916 would have been the most prominent.” Mr Fleming said other Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members agreed with him.
Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, who briefly came to prominence during the presidential campaign when he said he wanted to run as an Independent candidate, said he hoped other commemorations would not “dilute” the importance of 1916.
“Our main commemoration will be 1916. Other commemorations may well have their place but I don’t imagine they wouldn’t distract from the main one,” Mr Ó Murchú said.
