Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

For over ten years and on a regular basis in this House I have raised the issue of Volunteer Thomas Ceannt, who is buried in Cork gaol. As we all know, Thomas Ceannt played a very significant role in pursuit of Irish freedom and on the eve of the centenary commemoration of 1916 it would be helpful if the appropriate Minister would update us on the current position. My understanding is that some of the initial obstacles have now been overcome.

If we look back on the repatriation of the bodies of the ten volunteers buried in Mountjoy, we all remember with a great sense of affection and pride the manner in which the Irish public responded to that act on that occasion. It is well past the time when Volunteer Thomas Ceannt would receive a Christian burial and his body repatriated to a more appropriate location, possibly the family plot in Fermoy.

I would be personally very disappointed if months pass by and it is not evident that that will be done, perhaps next year, which would be the proper occasion to do what is right. Volunteer Thomas Ceannt is now the only patriot from that period resting in prison grounds and if there are no difficulties with family or otherwise, it should not be beyond the bounds of possibility that in the coming months we should be able to announce that the right thing will be done, even at this belated stage. I ask the Leader if he would make an inquiry for us in that regard and provide a statement to the House.