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Easter Rising and the Somme

ir,—Having read Mr McAlister’s reply (Letters, HI 23.4, July/Aug. 2015) with interest, I notice that he has not addressed the issues which I raised. Nowhere in my letter (HI 23.3, May/June 2015) was there a suggestion of a joint remembrance ceremony commemorating the 1916 Rising and the Battle of the Somme. I do, however, believe that there should be two separate commemorations, especially in this instance. Following on from Mr McAlister’s view on joint commemorations, is he also of the opinion that there should be no National Day of Commemoration, which is held during the month of July every year to honour Irish men and women killed in conflicts and on United Nations service? Mr McAlister has endeavoured to deflect from the purpose of holding remembrance ceremonies by referring to what he terms were imperial atrocities that took place some 30 years after the First World War. I am sure that most people, including myself, would not agree with torture being carried out by the government or military forces of any country. He is of course correct in stating that a newly independent country has a right to choose its form of government, be it monarchy or republic. But if such a discussion did take place (regarding the placing of a German prince on the throne of Ireland), it would most certainly have been at variance with the sentiments expressed in the 1916 Proclamation, which was a declaration of an Irish Republic, although I would concur with Mr McAlister’s observation that a monarchy is more in keeping with Irish tradition than a republic.—Yours etc.,

Dr TADHG MOLONEY
Limerick