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A WREATH HAS been laid in the Leinster House lawn to mark 100 years since the death of “one of Ireland’s founding fathers” Arthur Griffith.
The informal remembrance ceremony was organised following criticism that the anniversary of Griffith’s death was not be adequately marked.
Drumcondra resident Donal O’Brolcháin had written to the Taoiseach and Ceann Comhairle in the past few weeks seeking a State commemoration
“Even those who opposed him on the Treaty respected him. Within two days of his death, a newspaper edited by Erskine Childers (a secretary to the plenipotentiaries but who opposed the Treaty and was executed in November 1922) published an unsigned tribute to Griffith,” O’Brollochain said as part of his campaign.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said today that Griffith was a “key figure” in Ireland’s history.
“On the 100th anniversary of his death, we remember a key figure in the Irish independence movement. Arthur Griffith contributed so much to political thinking; founder of the first Sinn Fein party, he displayed extraordinary commitment throughout a formative period in our history, ” Martin tweeted.
Dublin-born Griffith founded Sinn Féin in 1905 and was one of the predominant nationalist figures in the early 20th century.
Griffith also founded and edited The United Irishman newspaper and though he did not take part in the Easter Rising he was arrested in the aftermath nonetheless.
He resigned the president of the party to allow Eamon DeValera become leader and Griffith became his deputy.
Griffith argued in favour of abstentionism and, following the 1918 election, Sinn Féin rejected Westminster to set up a parliament and government in Dublin.
Griffith was elected in both Cavan East and Tyrone North West during that election.
Griffith served as as Minister for Home Affairs from 1919 to 1921 and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1921 to 1922.
As such, he led the delegation which negotiated The Treaty between Ireland and Britain alongside Minister for Finance Michael Collins and Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Barton.
Griffith argued in favour of the acceptance of the treat as, “a Treaty of peace between Ireland and Great Britain. I believe that the treaty will lay foundations of peace and friendship between the two nations”.
He became President of the Dáil and remained in the position until his death of a brain haemorrhage on 12 August 1922.
Waterford TD Matt Shanahan co-ordinated today’s event in Leinster House saying that he was “responding to a number of public calls for some recognition of the anniversary date to be marked in Leinster House”.
“Considering that Arthur Griffith is one of three gigantic historical figures honoured by the installation of the cenotaph in Leinster House gardens, I felt it fitting that we mark the centenary there and I am delighted that some of Arthur Griffith family members will be in attendance to participate,” Shanahan said.
A number of other events are taking place today and over the weekend. Griffith College in Dublin is to hold a short commemoration at the campus with his grandson Shane Gray in attendance.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will make will deliver an oration at Griffith’s graveside in Glasnevin cemetery on Sunday.
Since 1923, the Collins/Griffith Commemoration Society has organised this annual event at the gravesides of Collins and Griffith.
Speaking today, Varadkar quoted Michael Collins’ words who described Griffith’s death as “a calamity for Ireland”.
“His vision was broad and inclusive. He met with unionist leaders because he knew that the starting point for any discussion of our shared island had to begin with fair play and understanding between all sections. Principles as relevant today as they were a hundred years ago,” Varadkar said.
“His early death truly was a ‘calamity for Ireland’ as described by Michael Collins, who of course joined him in that desperate fate shortly after. Today we remember him as one of the brave dreamers of the Irish State, a man with the vision for what Ireland could be and the courage and determination to work to make it happen.”
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Ireland doesn’t seem to be very good at commemorations, even the 1916 commemorations were a joke in my opinion
@Nigel Hayden: The current leaders don’t want anything that might give SF some credit. FF and FG think it was them that achieved our independence
@Shaun Gallagher: Technically the founding members of FG and FF did achieve independence. They just left SF and formed their own parties based on their stances on the Treaty
@Nigel Hayden: I thought the 1916 commemorations were very good, we attended local government funded workshops in the months leading up to it, highlighting what was done locally for the rising, and the council sponsored a special commemorative medal (given to their families) to commemorate every member who took part in the rising from the county. What was disappointing about it? Don’t forget Covid dampened some of the commemorations as well
@Nigel Hayden: They matched the rising, so? (Hat. Coat.)
@Shaun Gallagher: Second time I’ve read this nonsensical remark today. Griffith founded the original Sinn Féin, and later went on to be a signatory of the Anglo Irish agreement. He’s not lauded a hero by modern-day Sinn Féin, hence why they didn’t organise any of the commemoration events
@Siofra Cronin: Was he or was he not a member of SF when he died.
@Shaun Gallagher: Yes he was a member of a political party called sinn fein at the time of his death, is this the same party that calls themselves sinn fein today, no.
@The next small thing: That’s all I said. No parties are the same from there foundation
He supported the ‘Boer Irish Brigade’ with an English language paper that the Afrikaans-speaking Boers couldn’t read. Sean MacBride’s dad fought with the Boers. What I admire most about Arthur Griffith was his curiosity and inclination to put his thoughts down on paper. He wrote about Hungary’s dual monarchy system and wondered if it might apply to Ireland. He wrote strongly about the need for developing native Irish industry. This influenced Gandhi and his followers in pre-independence India, but Gandhi distanced himself from the military War of Independence. Many today would disagree with some of Griffith’s writings, but 100 years later we can say Griffith was a thinker. Ireland needs thinkers.
Try again! – Important to remember his colossal contribution to Irish independence (and after all the concept of abstentionism, the withdrawal of Irish MPs and the setting up of a separate parliament in Dublin, was his, used by Sinn Féin so effectively in 1918-9), and he effectively worked himself to death in helping set up the new State. Also important to look at historical figures in the round – his well documented anti-Semitism was irrational and was a black mark against his character.
Important to remember his colossal contribution to Irish independence (and after all the concept of abstentionism, the withdrawal of Irish MPs and the setting up of a separate parliament in Dublin, was his, used by Sinn Féin so effectively in 1918-9), and he effectively worked himself to death in helping set up the new State. Also important to look at historical figures in the round – his well documented was irrational anti-Semitism was a black mark against his character.
Anyone think Eddie Hobbs could be related
Ha ha, Fine Gael are finally wise to the fact that they can no longer claim Sinn Féin’s Michael Collins as their party mascot so Arthur Griffith is the latest PR alignment. Lol not as sexy as Collins though, right Leo…
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