Sir, – One of my great-grandfathers was a member of the RIC; another was an IRA volunteer. I am told that both men were decent and honourable, but my sympathies lie with the man who fought for an Irish republic.
Some commentators argue that an armed conflict between Ireland and Britain was unnecessary because Home Rule had been passed in 1914. However, they minimise the fact that the British were planning to partition Ireland against the will of the majority of its citizens.
They also fail to appreciate the gulf between what Home Rule meant in reality and what it meant to ordinary Irish nationalists. Indeed, Home Rule was a very limited measure of self-government, much less than what John Redmond and his supporters desired, and much less than the significant degree of independence won for the 26 counties by the IRA’s guerrilla war of 1919-21.
It is unlikely that the British would have conceded independence at that time without a fight. Their reaction to the result of the 1918 general election suggests this much. When the uncontested Irish constituencies in that election are taken into account, it is clear that a majority of the electorate in Ireland supported Sinn Féin, a party that advocated an Irish republic. The British ignored this and the RIC sided with them. I believe the RIC was wrong.
I have no difficulty commemorating my great-grandfather Michael Gallagher and the other members of the RIC. However, I do object to the campaign to de-legitimise the contribution of my other great-grandfather, Dominic O’Grady, who fought for meaningful independence for this country. – Yours, etc,