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Éamon Ó Cuív and Micheál Martin at today's launch in Dublin. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Micheál Martin: The IRA hijacked the Easter Rising, it's time to take it back

‘They have attempted to tarnish events of 1916 in the most appalling way.’

MICHEÁL MARTIN CRITICISED the provisional IRA for ‘hijacking’ the Easter Rising, saying it is time for the people of Ireland to take it back.

Martin said descendants of those involved in the Rising should be able to celebrate its centenary next year ”absolutely without inhibition”, and move on from the republican group’s attempt to tarnish the events of 1916.

“[The Rising] was truly watershed in terms of the history of the country. Not just of this country, but in terms of global events. It was the first colony that the [British] Empire lost and it inspired other countries around the world to strike out for their freedom.

“It is fair to say that others in more modern times, in my view, have tarnished the Rising … and attempted to distort history in a most appalling way to justify acts that could not be justified – and I’m referring to the 30 years campaign by the provisional IRA in the north.

There is no connection or direct link or chain that they sometimes attempt to articulate between the events of 1916, and what transpired in terms of the murder and mayhem in northern Ireland for such a prolonged period there.

Martin was speaking at the launch of Fianna Fáil’s commemoration plans for the centenary of the Rising.

During his speech at the event, Martin got a huge cheer when he declared:

Let me be clear that we believe that 1916 belongs to no party, it belongs to the Irish people.  It is ironic that the only party with no direct connection to 1916 is the one most likely to try and abuse it for political purposes.

Martin said his party’s series of events will complement the government’s plans – which he described as inadequate.

“Unfortunately the allocation of only €1 million to cover the commemoration activities of every council directly undermines the possibility of an ambitious and inclusive calendar of events at local level.”

FF 1916 Events launch 13 Éamon Ó Cuív Conor McCabe Conor McCabe

Éamon Ó Cuív is the chairperson of Fianna Fáil’s 1916 commemorative committee. He said that Fianna Fáil is working to ensure its series of events are open to the public.

Our focus is on developing materials and events that bring to life the reality of the Rising, rather than attempting to leverage this great event for party political advantage.

“Our events will be open to the public to allow the history of the rising to be explored by all. I will work to ensure that as many people as possible attend the events so that the Rising gets the recognition it deserves.”

Fianna Fáil leadership

Speaking to reporters ahead of the launch, Martin said he is confident he will lead the party into the next general election.

“We will outperform the polls in the next general election, and of that I am certain,” he added.

Maureen Haughey, wife of former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey and daughter of Seán Lemass, was also at the launch. In a rare interview, she spoke to the media about her father’s involvement in the Rising. We’ll have more on this on TheJournal.ie later today.

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are battling to lead the 1916 celebrations

Over half of those killed in 1916 Rising were civilians

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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:07 PM

    Seven years what a joke

    231
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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:14 PM

    @Casper: Can only sentence what the max was at the time of the offence, in the 70′s.

    Legislation allows for bigger sentences now.

    47
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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:19 PM

    @Matt Connolly: well if that’s the case the law needs to be changed to allow for bigger sentences, it don’t matter what decade it was or is it still has the same impact on its victims and society as a whole.

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    Mute the phantom
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:25 PM

    @Casper: agreed. It must be possible to classify violent rapists (those proven to ever have offended) as on-going dangers to society and jail them at the discretion of the minister for justice.
    Could even apply to people who committed such acts abroad. Not a bad way to keep out people who have done so in other countries too.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:38 PM

    @Casper: it is my understanding that the judge made this 7 year sentence run consecutively to the 7 year and 10 months sentence he is already serving which is right and proper

    21
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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:44 PM

    @John O’Neill: well that’s good to know

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    Mute Dean Moriarity
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:34 PM

    Parents should be very wary of letting their kids play GAA. Far too much of this going on under the county banner.

    71
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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:41 PM

    @Dean Moriarity: don’t be silly you can’t paint every one with the one brush, lots of good people give of their time to these clubs day in and day out and well done to their commitment, but clubs do have a duty of care to make sure that volunteers are vetted and provided training in child protection

    97
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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:53 PM

    @Casper: That’s what they used to say about the Catholic Church until the full extent of the paedophilia and cover up was revealed. The GAA is run along the same lines, unquestioning loyalty to the parish coach who has access to children via a position of trust. This is only the tip of the iceberg in the GAA.

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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:59 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: well if that’s true I would assume its historical, I don’t believe that would be the case in this day and age, and I hope that people keep coming forward and put their perpetrators behind bars where they belong

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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:08 PM

    @Casper: Agreed.

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    Mute Thomas Blackcat
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:15 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: Not happening now? That’s what the RCC and GAA swore then….and it’s still happening. People are both blind and stupid…..

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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:35 PM

    @Thomas Blackcat: sounds like you have some information or evidence of serious crimes if you do you better take it to the Garda, and if you don’t stop blowing smoke out of your arse

    31
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    Mute Ray Muller
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    Nov 10th 2017, 7:58 PM

    @Cultural Marxist:
    Perverts will infiltrate any organisation that will provide cover for their despicable criminal acts. Being a cultural Marxist perhaps you are aware of Bella Dodd?
    “In the late 1920′s and 1930′s, directives were sent from Moscow to all Communist Party organizations. In order to destroy the Catholic Church from within, party members were to be planted in seminaries and within diocesan organizations,” Dodd stated according to the affidavit.She also stated in her book “school of darkness” that “The homosexual and heretical pollution of the priesthood was deliberate and long in the making” and that she herself under orders placed over 1100 deviants into the church to destroy it from within?

    11
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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 8:32 PM

    @Ray Muller: Calling gay people perverts and deviant, you must be a Catholic yourself. When you graduate from primary school you may also learn that there is no link between sexual orientation and paedophilia, that is why your priests molested young girls as well as boys.

    10
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    Mute Ray Muller
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    Nov 10th 2017, 9:32 PM

    @Cultural Marxist:
    Of course there isn’t, but there is a historically connection with pederastry, or man and boy, which is what apparently occurred in this case. Its also a tag peculiar that the world leading “gay” rights group, ILGA, reportedly harboured no less that 3 of these dangerous sicko groups in their ranks for years. They even had UN funding removed because of it!
    Just saying it as it is.

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    Mute Ray Muller
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    Nov 10th 2017, 9:40 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: Of course there isn’t, but there is a historical connection, Romans and Greeks with pederastry, or man and boy depravity, which is what apparently what transpired in this case.
    Its also a tag peculiar that the world’s leading “gay” rights group, ILGA, reportedly harboured no less that 3 of these dangerous sicko groups in their ranks for years. They even had UN funding removed because of it!
    Just saying it as it is. The truth shouldn’t offend anyone?

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Nov 10th 2017, 10:10 PM

    @Casper: My young fella plays hurling and as far as i am aware, there is no garda vetting (at our local club anyway). I often help out at things and no one has ever asked me to get garda vetted. The local parish council asked me to do some readings at the church regularly. And i had to be garda vetted. Its extremely strict at the church and so it should be with their disastrous record. So i do feel there is a risk at my GAA club that i didnt consider. Though i do accompany my son to ALL matches/training.

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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Nov 10th 2017, 11:25 PM

    @Sinead Hanley: Garda vetting is a requirement for all coaches and others involved with underage GAA teams, and has been for years. I don’t know to what extent you help out yourself, but maybe not to that degree? Would find it unlikely that your club doesn’t comply at all. Either way, it would probably be better for you to ask a club official than to throw such probably unfounded accusations around online.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Nov 11th 2017, 1:11 AM

    @Jumperoo: The fact is that even though my club are probably complying (as you say) with garda vetting etc, i as a parent have not been made aware of it. My son is with his club for 3 years since he was 4 and i have never heard a word about child “safety” except for the cul camps. I am not suggesting any problems with child safety but i think its important that the GAA highlight their stance from now on. I was taken aback when i read this article cos i hasnt considered it. Though i always accompany my child. There is a framed poster in our church for safety officers/people for children if u are concerned. Its not in our gaa club.

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    Mute Gearoidín Ní Fhiách
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    Nov 11th 2017, 3:05 AM

    @Sinead Hanley: Sinead, there is a legal requirement on every GAA club to have every coach, trainer or manager Garda Vetted. They are also obliged to undertake a Child a Protection course of which this subject matter is the primary focus. They must also undertake various coaching courses, but the first, the Garda Vetting is essential. It would not be possible to have every single person who turns up at a pitch checked, many are parents like yourself etc. Think about it. If your child is at a game and you’ve arranged another parent to take them home, and something sinister were to occur, there is nothing the GAA club could do to prevent that, if you follow. But a good club will take all and any precautions to ensure those with the closet contact yo kids, are safe. That said, these predators will always find a way. Can’t keep kids locked away, just in case.

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    Mute MacEochagain
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:13 PM

    More silence from Croke Park. They need to come out and reassure people things are done properly these days…. they had more to say about a certain testimonial dinner last week!

    #headinthesand

    35
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    Mute Sean @114
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    Nov 10th 2017, 7:39 PM

    @MacEochagain: this is happening everywhere. The aggressive atheists will tell you that the abusers all have white collars. Anywhere where adults are exposed to kids this can happen. All coaches are Garda vetted but this means little unless you have a record. I’m not sure what any organisation can say unless it’s a token apology. This is a societal issue.

    11
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    Mute Gavin Huban
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    Nov 10th 2017, 7:47 PM

    @Sean @114: societal problem caused by years of religious repression…..

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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 8:34 PM

    @Sean @114: What’s an ‘aggressive atheist’? Is it someone who shouts at nothing?

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    Mute MacEochagain
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    Nov 10th 2017, 9:23 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: it’s a first cousin of a cultural Marxist.. ..

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    Mute Sean @114
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    Nov 11th 2017, 12:52 AM

    @Gavin Huban: years of sexual repression maybe.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:41 PM

    That sentence is a joke! Three times that sentence would be a joke. Turns my stomach.

    34
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    Mute Paul O Riordan
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:59 PM

    Appalling behavior from someone in a position of trust. His children are probably victims also. No winners

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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:03 PM

    Its time sentences were changed, instead of protecting these people.

    6
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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Nov 10th 2017, 8:41 PM

    A pompous self denying paedophile ,No remorse ,no remission ,

    14
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    Mute Freecakes
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    Nov 10th 2017, 10:59 PM

    The Journal, I often wonder why you even bother with images. Why not show a photo of this s*umbag – we already have his name – so we know what he looks like when he gets parole in a few years.

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Nov 10th 2017, 11:57 PM

    @Freecakes: to protect his victims?

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