Sir, – I agree with John A Murphy that the commemoration of 1916 was handled by the government with style and sensitivity ("Psychological milestone has been passed", Analysis, March 30th). The involvement of the Army has been exemplary. It might have been a good idea if some of the great "achievers" of the past century of independence – the writers, musicians, aid workers, civil servants, sportspeople – had also been represented in Easter Sunday's parade. But overall the occasion made one proud to be Irish.
However, there are two large caveats. The events of the weekend remembered little of the many faults of the state that emerged from the Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War – maybe that will come later in the decade of commemorations.
But as President Michael D Higgins pointed out, many of the ideals of those who fought in the Rising have not been realised. We remain a deeply unequal, non-Irish speaking, 26-county state and society. In particular, the aim of a 32-county republic is as far away today as it was 100 years ago – farther, I would argue, because of the Provisional IRA’s 30-year campaign of violence in the North.
Despite this, some of us insist on continuing to hope for an eventual united Ireland – or some all-island coming together short of a unitary state – with the consent of a significant proportion of Northern unionists.
Because, despite the mistaken words of the Proclamation, one cannot be “oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government”. Those differences were and are not “carefully fostered” – they are real. And until the Republic of Ireland finds a way to embrace the proud British identity of three-quarters of a million Northern unionists, the aspiration to unity will remain an impossible dream. – Yours, etc,
ANDY POLLAK,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.