Council hits back at banner critics

DUBLIN City Council has hit back at criticism over a commemorative banner at the Bank of Ireland on College Green featuring Irish constitutional politicians, but none of the 1916 leaders.

The council say the banner is just one of several commemorative banners and wraps on prominent buildings erected in collaboration with the 1916 National Project Office, the OPW, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht.

The controversial banner has portraits of Henry Grattan, Charles Stewart Parnell, Daniel O’Connell and John Redmond and according to the council, they are as much a part of the historical narrative of Irish nationalism as anyone else.

“During the course of discussions and planning and In the context of commemorating the Rising – an event that forever changed the course of Irish History – it was felt appropriate and fitting to pay due respect to the endeavours of some of the great constitutional nationalists and parliamentarians who over the previous 150 years sought to assert, within the contexts of their periods, Irish Sovereignty, dignity and aspirations,” a council spokesperson said.

The council also argues that Ireland, as one of the oldest continuous democracies in the world, has a proud parliamentary tradition that stretches back centuries.

It points out that the Bank of Ireland, along this weekend’s parade route, was the very first purpose-built Parliament Building and the seat of Grattan’s Parliament.

And the council has put forward reasons why the other three politicians are featured on the banner.

“Daniel O’ Connell is a figure of immense historical significance nationally and internationally,” the council spokesperson continued.

“He was the leader of the Catholic Emancipation and Repeal movements, a friend of Douglas, the American Anti-Slavery leader and considered to be one of the father figures of the European Christian Democratic movement, and the first democratically elected Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1841. 

“Parnell failed to get two Home Rule Bills enacted, but with his policy of agitation he changed forever the Parliamentary process in Westminster and co-operated with Davitt to break the power of the landlords.

“Redmond secured a commitment to Home Rule, but external events (World War One (WW1), etc.) conspired against him.

Critics and a number of city historians are angry that the Bank of Ireland banner is celebrating supporters of Home Rule in the context of the 1916 commemorations.

However, the council points out that other banners around the city depict the 1916 heroes including the seven proclamation signatories and women of the Rising.