Seanad debates

Wednesday, 4 May 2022

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

2:00 pm

Photo of Gerard CraughwellGerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I attended the Easter Rising ceremony in Arbour Hill this morning, as did the Cathaoirleach. As a former member of An Chéad Chathlán Coisithe, or An Céad Cath as it is known, in Galway and a former instructor at the brigade depot in Athlone, I compliment the excellent job done by the Defence Forces and by the members of the 7th battalion that provided the guard of honour. It is right and proper that we remember these events. It is right and proper that we remember all events in our history.

On Sunday of this weekend just gone, I attended the commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary, RIC, in London. It was deeply regrettable that this ceremony could not have been held in Ireland. Many thousands of men served in the Royal Irish Constabulary throughout our history. Many of them served with distinction. They were, essentially, policemen doing the work of policemen. Sadly, somehow or other, we managed to wrap the RIC in the shroud of the Black and Tans, which was a very different organisation and whose members are answerable not to us but to God, if there is one. At that ceremony in London, I met many relatives of RIC men who had travelled from all over the world to be there to commemorate, in one case, their father, and, in many cases, their grandfathers.

In this Decade of Centenaries celebrations, it is sad we could not have facilitated that commemoration in this country. I record that I remembered that many of the people being commemorated were policemen. Not all of them were decent guys, but the majority were policemen who did the job policemen do. I am glad I had an opportunity to remember those men last Sunday. We must look into our souls. If we want true reconciliation on this island, we must be able to extend the hand of friendship to our former foes.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.