Minister warns against 'militaristic' commemoration of 1916 centenary

CENTENARY commemorations of the 1916 Rising will highlight Ireland’s culture, language and poetry rather than the military ceremonies of the past, Minister of State Dinny McGinley has said.

Mr McGinley said people who visited Ireland “make their way to the GPO because it is almost like the Bastille”.

He said “previous commemorations were rather narrow and almost militaristic. We have to widen our focus on this occasion by highlighting the significance of our culture, language, poetry.”

The Minister was responding to Sinn Féin arts spokeswoman Sandra McLellan, who asked what plans were in place to make the GPO a cultural centre.

The Government has already ruled out moving the Abbey Theatre into the GPO because it would cost €293 million and would be unlikely to be completed in time for 2016.

Mr McGinley, standing in for Minister for Arts Jimmy Deenihan, said the GPO housed “960 staff of An Post, which holds an exclusive lease of the complex until 2034 at an annual rent of €1.27 million”.

While moving the Abbey to the GPO would have cost an estimated €293 million, that estimate “came with a caveat that several unknown factors could add significantly to that sum”.

Ms McLellan asked what provision had been made for 2016 for the creation of a national monument incorporating the GPO, Moore Street, Moore Lane and O’Rahilly Parade. “Such a project would be very important in the context of 2016,” she said.

The Minister of State said a cross-party committee, chaired by Mr Deenihan, “is examining what could be done to properly commemorate the centenary of the great events of 1916. Not only was it a military affair, but it was a literary affair too. It was almost a poetic affair.”

All possibilities were being considered by the committee and “it will be fittingly commemorated when the time comes. We are all looking forward to it.” Mr McGinley however warned against a militaristic commemoration of the Rising.

Fianna Fáil arts spokesman Robert Troy said: “Many of our forefathers fought in GPO and its vicinity to secure the freedom of our country. As we approach the centenary celebrations, the department should carefully consider what can be done with that area of Dublin city. I suggest it should develop a facility that can be used to celebrate the 1916 Rising, not only on a once-off basis but also by future generations.”

Mr Troy added: “We will have festivals and commemorations to celebrate the centenary, but we should also develop this historic building so that it becomes an ongoing tourist attraction in the heart of the city.”

Mr McGinley said the commemoration would mark Ireland’s culture and heritage, rather than the “almost militaristic” commemorations of the past.