FF favours GPO museum - Ahern

Fianna Fáil is committed to developing a museum in the GPO on Dublin's O'Connell Street, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

In April 2006, following the first military parade since 1972 to mark the 90th anniversary of 1916, Mr Ahern told the Dáil that no decision had been made on whether the GPO should be closed as a post office and transformed into some type of museum.

But proposals subsequently emerged to glaze over the hidden courtyards of the GPO and open them to the public as part of a plan to create a museum for the centenary of the Rising.

However, it is understood that the principal function of the building as a post office would be retained under the plan. It had previously been suggested that the GPO, which dates from 1814, might be converted into a museum to commemorate the Rising.

Mr Ahern also said today his party favoured the establishment of the Museum of Irish Literature in Parnell Square and establishing a National Sports Museum.

Mr Ahern made the announcements during a visit to the National Museum in Collins Barracks where he viewed the Pádraig Pearse letter recently acquired for the State by an unnamed benefactor. The letter is one of Pearse's final writings and was composed by him in his condemned cell in Kilmainham Gaol hours before his execution.

"Ireland's history belongs to every Irish person and I am delighted that this letter of major historical significance is now in the possession of the State," Mr Ahern said.

"This State has its roots in 1916. It is a pivotal turning point in our history."

The President, Taoiseach, opposition leaders were among dignitaries who attended the State's annual commemoration of the Rising at Arbour Hill, Dublin this morning.

In his homily at the ceremony, the Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh said pertinent questions are asked about the society of our time and how it measures up to those ideals of the men and women who fought for Irish freedom.

The Most Rev Gerard Clifford said the 1916 Proclamation was written at a time of widespread poverty, under-nourishment among the poor, considerable hunger, low life expectancy and widespread emigration to England and the US.

He said Ireland of 2007 presents a very different picture, with a confident economy, low unemployment and a good standard of living for many.

"For some the country is awash with money, more mobile phones than people in the Republic of Ireland," he said.

"Yet the affluence of many is full of anomalies."

Dr Clifford said the country's 420,000 new migrants now make up 10 per cent of the population bringing with them distinctive cultural, religious and spiritual gifts. There are currently some 100 religious services in place in Ireland for some 14 ethnic groups with 41 chaplains providing these services, with priests and religious full-time or part-time ministering to the Polish, Portuguese, Lithuanian, Latvian, Filipino, African and other ethnic groups.

"The important factor in all of this is that we are challenged to encourage and allow diversity," he said.

"They do not come to be subsumed into our way of life. They come to make their own distinctive contribution to our country.

"Those who arrive here have rights that go far beyond mere welcome.

"These include the right to provide for oneself and one's family. It includes the right to a quality of life comparable to the rest of the community, the right to work, the right to protection in the workplace, the right to family life."

Additional reporting PA