Finally, after several years of intending to do so, I made it to the Ivy Day wreath-laying and oration in Glasnevin ceremony.
Ivy Day is the day when Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891), the former leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, is commemorated. He came close to achieving Home Rule for Ireland, but his career fell apart when he was revealed to be having an extra-marital affair. The scandal created fault-lines in Irish society between "Parnellites" and "anti-Parnellites".
Most of the Catholic clergy (though not all) were anti-Parnellites. After his fall, Parnell was something of a hero to the more modernizing and secular strands of Irish society. I don't really know his own views on social issues. He seems to have been intensely focused on the issue of Home Rule. I'm more sympathetic to the anti-Parnellites.
Nevertheless, Parnell was a great man. He's not really a popular hero in Ireland today, but then, neither are the vast majority of patriots and statesmen of our past. Irish people today are more interested in garden centres and shopping expeditions than anything dull like heritage or citizenship.
My main reason for going to the commemoration was my tenderness for old traditions. I don't really think we can have enough traditions.
There was an oration from Martin Mansergh, a former Fianna Fáil TD. It was eloquent, but it reflected the sort of civic patriotism that leaves me rather cold. I don't really see the point of an independent Ireland, or a united Ireland, unless it's a vehicle for a revived native culture. It can still be pluralistic and diverse.
The piper played "Raglan Road" and other tunes, as well as the National Anthem at the end.
There were about thirty people there. They all seemed to know each other, though I may be wrong about that. They were very welcoming. I hope to attend in future years.
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