PROCLAMATION OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC 24/4/1916.
IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN. In the name of God and of dead generations from which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.
We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible.
The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished, except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty, six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a Sovereign Independent State, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades-in-arms to the cause of its freedom, and of its exaltation among the nations.
signed on behalf of the Provisional Government
Thomas James Clarke
Seán MacDiarmada Thomas MacDonagh
Padrig Henry Pearse Éamonn Ceannt
James Connolly Joseph Plunkett
Someone posted a poem by Padraic Pearse in the comment section of a post on our blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://cardiffrespect.blogspot.com/2007/07/its-never-too-late-to-love-or-rebel.html
James Connolly, was a socialist, and he was clear that after the rising they might have to fight the nationalists who wouldn't fight for the emancipation of the Irish poor and working people:
"In the event of victory hold on to your rifles, as those with whom we are fighting may stop before our goal is reached. We are out for economic as well as political liberty."
He also stated:
"If you remove the English army to-morrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organisation of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain.
England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist institutions"
These capitalists are global now.
ReplyDeleteThey rule Wales and England as much as they rule Ireland.
We are in the consumer society and materialism rules.
If you want to change anything you must begin with the people. People need a lot of convincing and their habits are not easy to be given up.
You might be right!
ReplyDeleteDid you read the poem by Padraic Pearse, he was a fine poet.
There are many fine Irish poets.
ReplyDeleteIreland is a poetic nation, and so is Wales, if given the chance.
Here is my contribution :
Yes, I hear the child in you
calling to the child in me ......
so gentle are the games that have no motive.
In the shrouded night,
and in the light of day,
rising and falling
they touch the divine.
There is no path along which
they cannot tread alone - together.
If you look into the spaces,
and listen to the silence,
you may find them - dancing,
arms entwined -
flirting with Creation.
"And so is Wales if given a chance".
ReplyDeleteWell, I think that Wales has already proved itself. Gerald Manley Hopkins, Dylan Thomas, RS Thomas in the more modern times and Taliesin and the various bards, Dafydd ap Gwilym up to Iolo Morganwg.
There's some interesting poets from industrial south wales too such as Idris Davies.