1916 centenary celebrations must remain non-partisan – Ó Cuív

Published on: 10 February 2015


Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív has said that the 1916 centenary celebrations must be non-partisan in nature so that they can be cherished by all sections of Irish society. Deputy Ó Cuív made the comments after chairing the inaugural meeting of the Coiste 1916 Committee. The committee has been established by party leader Micheál Martin TD and is tasked with organising a series of public commemorative events in the lead up to 2016.

Deputy Ó Cuív commented, “The 1916 centenary celebrations must remain non-partisan in nature to ensure that they can be cherished by all sections of Irish society as intended by those that participated in the Easter Rising. Fianna Fáil is currently putting in place a comprehensive programme of public events to mark the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. We will be outlining our programme of events over the coming weeks.

“The membership of the committee consists of relatives of those that fought in 1916, members of the Fianna Fáil National Executive along with representatives from the parliamentary party. Unfortunately the government has left a lot to be desired with its minimalist plan to mark the centenary. We have been receiving feedback from people across Ireland and there is a growing consensus that Fianna Fáil must play a leading role in celebrating the centenary. Our work will be focused on developing material and events that explain and bring to life the reality of the Rising, rather than attempting to leverage this great event for party political advantage.

“The events that we are organising will take place at both a local and national level and will mark one of the greatest turning points in Irish history. We will also work with local authorities to ensure that the key events leading up to the Easter Rising are commemorated. The events will be co-ordinated by the Fianna Fáil organisation locally and we will be encouraging the public to participate at every opportunity” said Deputy Ó Cuív.

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