Not certain where if anywhere this should be posted. I only half listened to an interview with Garrett Fitzgerald on NewsTalk today about his views on the 1916 commemoration and its appropriateness. In passing he modestly mentioned his famous pedigree and the fact that his Mother came from Northern Ireland, which would suggest a touch of possible bias.
Anyway, he saw fit to mention how we couldn't afford a United Ireland because of the huge cost to the government of the UK, a burden we would inherit. That means UK taxpayers of course who, given a vote, would probably be delighted to offload it - yesterday! Then a thought occurred to me. Had we remained as a part of the United Kingdom, would the Celtic Tiger have been born, would we be one of the most prosperous countries in the EU today and the envy of many? A very unlikely scenario IMHO - had it not been for the Easter Rising and all that ensued.
If then one accepts that reality, quite apart from other considerations like our independence as a nation, then surely we should also accept that were it not for all those people who suffered in 1916 and for decades later through depression, an economic war, recession and emigration, we would never have had a Celtic Tiger. Nor would we have all the benefits that have accrued to our citizens for the past 15 years and which will, hopefully, continue into the foreseeable future. This is not a defence for war and violence but where in the world has power ever been yielded up peacefully? There is always a price to be paid by idealistic and courageous people, while those who come after them reap the benefit as we do today. I wonder would the men and women of 1916 be proud of us and consider their sacrifice had not been in vain? I hope so.
PS On a lighter note, had the pre-1916 status quo been maintained, I doubt if we'd be concerned with world wide property markets, SSIAs or the date of INBS's demutualization either!
Anyway, he saw fit to mention how we couldn't afford a United Ireland because of the huge cost to the government of the UK, a burden we would inherit. That means UK taxpayers of course who, given a vote, would probably be delighted to offload it - yesterday! Then a thought occurred to me. Had we remained as a part of the United Kingdom, would the Celtic Tiger have been born, would we be one of the most prosperous countries in the EU today and the envy of many? A very unlikely scenario IMHO - had it not been for the Easter Rising and all that ensued.
If then one accepts that reality, quite apart from other considerations like our independence as a nation, then surely we should also accept that were it not for all those people who suffered in 1916 and for decades later through depression, an economic war, recession and emigration, we would never have had a Celtic Tiger. Nor would we have all the benefits that have accrued to our citizens for the past 15 years and which will, hopefully, continue into the foreseeable future. This is not a defence for war and violence but where in the world has power ever been yielded up peacefully? There is always a price to be paid by idealistic and courageous people, while those who come after them reap the benefit as we do today. I wonder would the men and women of 1916 be proud of us and consider their sacrifice had not been in vain? I hope so.
PS On a lighter note, had the pre-1916 status quo been maintained, I doubt if we'd be concerned with world wide property markets, SSIAs or the date of INBS's demutualization either!