Why 1916 relatives and everyone else should shun Eoghan Harris by Ciaran McL

Has Eoghan Harris lost the plot? Bemused, I read his recent article on the southern political parties lineage to 1916. He proceeded to use a combination of revisionism, a deficiency in historical knowledge and good old bitterness as a weapon to try and beat Sinn Fein with. He is obviously disconcerted with Sinn Fein rolling out their programme of commemoration, celebrating the centenary of the Rising. Amongst others, the Irish government is still considering who they should invite, never mind what they should do!  A history lesson for Eoghan is required.

Harris has suggested that of the Southern political parties “Sinn Fein has the least claim to a clear lineage to 1916.” Ok, lets test that assertion and make the lineage a little more apparent for him.

The aftermath of the Easter Rising witnessed the sea change of public opinion that culminated in Sinn Fein emerging as the largest political party in Ireland. Before the rising, Sinn Fein was a marginal political grouping with very limited support and no electoral success. Sean McDermott, one of the 1916 leaders had a direct link with Sinn Fein as a national organiser before joining the IRB and pursuing the separatist ideals! SF on the whole had no direct military link to the Rising, but circumstances, namely the British handling amongst others, propelled Sinn Fein into political prominence, giving them a direct lineage to the Rising. Those imprisoned in the immediate aftermath of the Rising and their families, threw their weight behind Sinn Fein resulting in the growth of their support base. “The prisoners at Frongoch would form the hard core of radical SF activists upon their release.” (Lynch) So for many directly involved in the Rising, Sinn Fein became the next progressive step, with their programme for national self determination winning mass appeal amongst Volunteers.

By 1917 Sinn Fein became a repository and umbrella organization for many diverse groups. Many associated with the Rising including the IRB, ICA, Irish volunteers and Cumann Na mban became known as Sinn Fein Through the by-elections of 1917 Sinn Fein “exploited its direct link with the Rising” (Lynch). Michael Laffan stated that by 1917 Sinn Fein became the fashion, due to their direct lineage with the Easter Rising.

The Father of Joseph Plunkett, Count Plunkett was elected under an advanced Nationalist Sinn Fein banner in North Roscommon … “portrayed as a grieving Father of one of the martyrs of the Rising.” Prisoner Joe McGuinness, jailed for his involvement in the Rising, was elected a Sinn Feiner in South Longford. Direct lineage. Eamonn De Valera, commandment in Boland’s Mill during the Rising was elected a Sinn Feiner in East Clare setting “the Sinn Fein bandwagon rolling.” (Laffan) De Valera’s election according to historian Lyons was “clearly a vote for 1916’ illustrating the direct lineage. The revitalized Sinn Fein reconstituted themselves with De Valera becoming leader of Sinn Fein in 1917.

By 1918 the General election, Sinn Fein received 73 seats, making it the dominant force in Irish politics. The people of Ireland gave Sinn Fein their mandate to pursue the ideals the Rising set out to achieve. The Easter Rising and it affects gave SF credibility, it made them who they became. Michael Collins TD/MP was a Sinn Feiner, Eamonn De Valera a Sinn Fein TD/MP before there were anything else. Harris does not even mention Collins and Dev were Sinn Feiners! Wonder why, to quote Harris, he is “showing a serious ignorance of Irish History.”

It was the success of Sinn Fein and their policy of absenstionism that created the first Dail. Subsequent events would result in Sinn Fein splitting thus creating Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. In effect all the modern political parties Harris alludes to, have roots and a clear lineage to Sinn Fein, the party that advanced from 1916. So Eoghan, can you explain again how Sinn Fein does not have a direct lineage to the Easter Rising?

Out of the ashes of the Easter Rising, Sinn Fein emerged. So Eoghan, Sinn Fein do have a credible claim to 1916, they are inseparable! That’s a fact! Michael Collins was not a member of Fine Gael and James Connolly was not a member of the Labour party! Fact!

In reality Sinn Fein, like all political parties in the South have a right to commemorate the Rising in whatever way possible. As Gerry Adams previously stated, Sinn Fein, the Irish Government or other political parties do not own the Rising. Eoghan Harris is attempting to deny certain political parties a connection to the Rising.  Of all parties Sinn Fein has continually celebrated the memory of the Rising. Successive Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour governments just didn’t abandon celebrating the Rising, they prevented and banned others from doing so. If there is one thing certain, relatives have a clear lineage to the Rising. If relatives want to attend Sinn Fein commemorations, they have an entitlement to do so. The Irish government haven’t offered much choice to date, have they? Nor have Fianna Fail or the Labour Party … Fact!