ORATION
In this the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising it is important to note that the freedom for which Josie McGowan fought for remains as yet unrealised. The 1916 Proclamation has yet to be fulfilled and a sovereign Ireland has yet to take her place amongst the nations of the world. The establishment of a sovereign Irish Republic is the only true and fitting memorial that we can offer those, like Josie, who fought for Irish freedom.
It is also important to note that as we gather here in remembrance of Josie there lies interred here beside her four anonymous souls, the people of no property, the very people whom Josie sought to liberate. In remembering these people we honour the freedom which Josie sought for them. Go ngabha Dia trocaire ar a nanamacha.
Josie McGowan participated in one of the most seminal events of our history. When Pearse read aloud the Proclamation from the portico of the General Post Office on Easter Monday Morning he signalled to the Irish people the fundamental choice which faced them, we are either entitled to our full freedom or we are not. And if you believe that we are entitled to that freedom then you are duty bound to seek it. And this is exactly what Josie and Pearse did in 1916.
The Proclamation is also one of the seminal events of Irish history. And I use the description of it as being an event deliberately. The Proclamation is only valid if it is acted upon. Its relevance to the Irish people can only be demonstrated by its resolute pursuit. For without that pursuit, and without people like Josie to execute that pursuit, the Proclamation remains a piece of paper open to the highest bidder as recently witnessed in a most shameful desecration of it.
When Ireland called her children to arms to defend our liberty Josie answered without hesitation. Enlisting in the ranks of Cumann Na mBan she joined with others of her gender to register their protest at the occupation of our country. On Easter Monday Morning that protest saw Josie and her comrades take up position under Eamon Ceannt in the Marrowbone Lane outpost of the South Dublin Union garrison. This garrison witnessed some of the fiercest fighting with a direct assault on it by over five hundred British troops on the Thursday of Easter Week.
As the fighting progressed and the inevitable dawned the word of Pearse’s surrender order reached Con Colbert in Marrowbone Lane. Waiting until confirmation of the order was given by Eamon Ceannt the garrison duly surrendered. In full uniform twenty two women volunteers of Cumman Na mBan, Josephine McGowan amongst them, marched from the garrison singing ‘The Soldiers Song’ in continued defiance of the oppressor.
Josie was interned in Kilmainham Jail for her actions. And whilst imprisoned there she no doubt heard the echoes of the firing squads as the British Empire executed the lawful government of the Irish people. Those echoes still reverberate in Ireland to this day. They echo in the continued partition of our country. They echo in the continued violation of our national sovereignty and they echo in the weasel words of those who claim the legacy of 1916 resides in a puppet parliament.
The legacy of 1916, the legacy of Josie McGowan, resides with those who recognise that 1916 is unfinished business. We cannot cherry pick 1916. We cannot ally ourselves with aspects of 1916 content that the passing of time insulates ourselves from our clear duty to it. The legacy of 1916 does not belong to history because that history has yet to be made.
So as we gather here to honour Josie and what she fought for let us ensure that we do not leave our honouring at the gates of this cemetery. Let us ensure that our honouring is not confined to an annual display. But let us ensure that we take with us the living memory of Josie McGowan, that cutting edge which will fashion the greatest honour to her of all, The Sovereign Irish Republic.
Go raibh maith agat.
In this the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising it is important to note that the freedom for which Josie McGowan fought for remains as yet unrealised. The 1916 Proclamation has yet to be fulfilled and a sovereign Ireland has yet to take her place amongst the nations of the world. The establishment of a sovereign Irish Republic is the only true and fitting memorial that we can offer those, like Josie, who fought for Irish freedom.
It is also important to note that as we gather here in remembrance of Josie there lies interred here beside her four anonymous souls, the people of no property, the very people whom Josie sought to liberate. In remembering these people we honour the freedom which Josie sought for them. Go ngabha Dia trocaire ar a nanamacha.
Josie McGowan participated in one of the most seminal events of our history. When Pearse read aloud the Proclamation from the portico of the General Post Office on Easter Monday Morning he signalled to the Irish people the fundamental choice which faced them, we are either entitled to our full freedom or we are not. And if you believe that we are entitled to that freedom then you are duty bound to seek it. And this is exactly what Josie and Pearse did in 1916.
The Proclamation is also one of the seminal events of Irish history. And I use the description of it as being an event deliberately. The Proclamation is only valid if it is acted upon. Its relevance to the Irish people can only be demonstrated by its resolute pursuit. For without that pursuit, and without people like Josie to execute that pursuit, the Proclamation remains a piece of paper open to the highest bidder as recently witnessed in a most shameful desecration of it.
When Ireland called her children to arms to defend our liberty Josie answered without hesitation. Enlisting in the ranks of Cumann Na mBan she joined with others of her gender to register their protest at the occupation of our country. On Easter Monday Morning that protest saw Josie and her comrades take up position under Eamon Ceannt in the Marrowbone Lane outpost of the South Dublin Union garrison. This garrison witnessed some of the fiercest fighting with a direct assault on it by over five hundred British troops on the Thursday of Easter Week.
As the fighting progressed and the inevitable dawned the word of Pearse’s surrender order reached Con Colbert in Marrowbone Lane. Waiting until confirmation of the order was given by Eamon Ceannt the garrison duly surrendered. In full uniform twenty two women volunteers of Cumman Na mBan, Josephine McGowan amongst them, marched from the garrison singing ‘The Soldiers Song’ in continued defiance of the oppressor.
Josie was interned in Kilmainham Jail for her actions. And whilst imprisoned there she no doubt heard the echoes of the firing squads as the British Empire executed the lawful government of the Irish people. Those echoes still reverberate in Ireland to this day. They echo in the continued partition of our country. They echo in the continued violation of our national sovereignty and they echo in the weasel words of those who claim the legacy of 1916 resides in a puppet parliament.
The legacy of 1916, the legacy of Josie McGowan, resides with those who recognise that 1916 is unfinished business. We cannot cherry pick 1916. We cannot ally ourselves with aspects of 1916 content that the passing of time insulates ourselves from our clear duty to it. The legacy of 1916 does not belong to history because that history has yet to be made.
So as we gather here to honour Josie and what she fought for let us ensure that we do not leave our honouring at the gates of this cemetery. Let us ensure that our honouring is not confined to an annual display. But let us ensure that we take with us the living memory of Josie McGowan, that cutting edge which will fashion the greatest honour to her of all, The Sovereign Irish Republic.
Go raibh maith agat.
 |