Sir, - I refer to your report on Sinn Fein and all party talks (April 29th) and the footnote to same issued by the Department of An Taoiseach, headed "Background note for news editors". This note takes issue with a claim by Mr Adams that the Irish Government has chosen not to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. The note goes on to point out that if reporters or editors were to refer to that part of Mr Adams's statement they should be aware that "it is not based on correct information". It goes on: "The facts are as follows: "The Government will hold its annual 1916 commemoration ... on Friday May 3rd at Arbour Hill".
This is a statement from the highest office in the land purporting to state facts for the benefit of the media. It is not correct, The Arbour Hill ceremony is not a Government commemoration . . . it is an Army commemoration to which members of the families of the 1916 leaders, members of the Government and Opposition; Army; Garda personnel; Judiciary and Air Corps are invited to attend. Successive Irish governments, to their shame, have failed to honour the men and women of 1916 over the years. In 1986, the 70th anniversary, relatives took it upon themselves to organise some form of tribute. In 1991 the Government were forced by circumstances to hold a low key commemoration after an independent committee had been set up to organise commemorative events due to government neglect in the previous years.
Perhaps now we have the answer - it would appear that this Government or certainly An Taoiseach's office is under the impression that they have indeed been commemorating 1916 annually. What a pity they have kept this information from the rest of us, until now!
Whatever next? Arbour Hill might yet figure on school tours: Dublin Bus and other tour operators might discover its whereabouts and it might even appear in tour guides to Dublin. And we might yet have a commemoration ceremony at Arbour Hill where the ordinary people of Ireland will be invited to pay their respects to those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy our independence, such as it is . . . - Yours, etc.,
Oxford Road,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.