Peter's Blog

Just commenting on things that interest me

Category: History

Bloody Sunday Anniversary

January 30, 2022 / / 0 Comments

It’s hard to believe that it is 50 years today since the British army opened fire on innocent people in Derry city, killing 13 on the day and 1 some weeks later. Six of those men were only 17 years of age.

And in the intervening 50 years there have been two inquiries and even an apology from the British Prime Minister but not a single soldier has been jailed for those killings.

The families of the victims still demand justice.

When we were on holiday in Donegal a few years ago we joined the Bloody Sunday walking tour.  It was very good good and helped us to understand the events of the day and the repercussions. I took the photo below of one of the murals.

I know it has been 50 years but I still hope that the perpetrators of these killings will be bought to justice one day.

Mural

Derry Mural

2016 – Goodbye and Good Riddance

January 2, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I think everyone is pretty glad to see the back of 2016.

This was the year when we lost David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Glenn Frey at the start, Prince in the middle, and Leonard Cohen towards the end, and George Michael (on Christmas Day no less) and Carrie Fisher at the end. Along with many, many, others.

And incredible to see Carrie Fisher’s mother, Debbie Reynolds, pass away the day after she did.

Civil War continues in Syria with reports that 450K Syrians have been killed in the fighting and almost 3 million refugees have fled the country.

Terrorist attacks linked to ISIL have continued throughout the year. The first in January in Libya claimed 60 lives. The last in December in Germany claimed 12. There were multiple attacks in Germany, France, Belgium and the USA. The worst incident was in Iraq with over 300 killed. Over 1,400 died in total.

From Ireland’s perspective, there were unfortunate public votes from our nearest neighbours on either side. In a June referendum the UK decided to leave the EU (well, to be more specific, England and Wales did and Scotland and Northern Ireland seem to have no choice but to go along with them). Among many other possible implications, this raises the possibility of a border being re-instituted between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. And in November, the citizens of the USA decided that Donald Trump would be their next president. The impact of this decision on Ireland and the rest of the world remains to be seen. He will take up the office on the 20th.

So goodbye 2016, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Songs about the 1916 Rising

April 3, 2016 / / 0 Comments

I want to mention two beautiful songs which commemorate the 1916 rising.

The first is “Grace”. This version is performed by The Dubliners”.

The song remembers Grace Gifford who married Joseph Plunkett in Kilmainham Goal a few hours before he was executed. I learned on the walking tour a few weeks ago that they only had 10 minutes together after the marriage, in a small cell filled with soldiers. More details are available here and here.

This sad and beautiful song has been playing in my head for the last week.

The second is “The Foggy Dew”. This version is by Sinead O’Connor and the Chieftains and is from the latter’s fabulous album “The Long Black Veil”.

Executed Leaders of the 1916 Rising

April 3, 2016 / / 0 Comments

In my past post I named the 7 men who signed the signed the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and who were executed for their roles in the 1916 rising.

The following men did not sign the Proclamation but were also executed:

Executed Name Place of Birth Year of Birth
4th May 1916 Edward Daly Limerick 1891
4th May 1916 Michael O’Hanrahan Wexford 1877
4th May 1916 William Pearse Dublin 1881
5th May 1916 John MacBride Mayo 1865
8th May 1916 Con Colbert Limerick 1888
8th May 1916 Michael Mallin Dublin 1874
8th May 1916 Seán Heuston Dublin 1891
9th May 1916 Thomas Kent Castlelyons, Co. Cork 1865
3rd August 1916 Roger Casement Dublin 1864

All of these men were executed in Kilmainham Gaol with the exception of Thomas Kent (killed in Cork Detention Barracks) and Roger Casement (killed in Pentonville Gaol in London). The picture below shows president Michael D. Higgins laying a wreath in the Stonebreakers’ Yard last Sunday to commemorate the centenary of the Rising.

kilmainham

Heroes of the 1916 Rising

March 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

The following is a list of the signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, read by Padraig Pearse outside the GPO on Easter Monday 1916. All of these men were executed by British firing squad following the Rising.

Seven Signatories
Name Place of Birth Age Profession
Thomas J. Clarke English 58 Tobacconist
Seán Mac Diarmada Leitrim 33 Manager of a newspaper
Thomas MacDonagh Tipperary 38 Lecturer, poet, and assistant headmaster
P. H. Pearse (Padraig) Dublin 36 Teacher, barrister, poet, writer
Éamonn Ceannt Galway 34 Accountant
James Connolly Edinburgh 47 Journalist and trade union leader
Joseph Plunkett Dublin 28 Poet, journalist

This is the Proclamation with the 7 signatories:

Proclamation

Easter Rising Celebrations

March 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

My previous posting on the centenary celebrations for the 1916 Rising may have created the impression that there were no very many people in Dublin to celebrate.

The photo above may help to dispel this possible misaprehension.

The photo below was taken from Westmoreland Street (close to Trinity College) looking towards O’Connell Bridge, where a large screen was positioned. On the screen you can perhaps see the president, Michael D. Higgins.

EasterRising2

Easter Rising

March 31, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Last weekend was Easter weekend, and the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 rising.

I regard the 1916 leaders as true heroes and I was glad to be able to go into Dublin with my family on both Sunday and Monday to join in the festivities and the celebrate this very special anniversary.

I took the photo above on the way in to the parade on Sunday. In the photo you can see:

  • The Custom House
  • Liberty Hall (huge bedecked in posters)

 

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