By Geraldine Collins on Mar 14, 2016.   No Comments

Proclamation Day at Ashton School 2016

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Meg Lynch reading the Proclamation for the Future, which she compiled and wrote.

 

Proclamation Day proceedings at Ashton School were opened by Principal Mr. Landen who welcomed Ms. Alison Flack, Board of Management, Mr. Ted Owens, Co-Patron CETB, Dr. Alicia St. Leger, and the school cohort.  He reminded us of the themes of the centenary commemoration of Easter Week 1916, being, Remember, Reflect, Re-imagine…..

Students, staff and invited guests paid respectful and dignified attention to most interesting and informative presentations, co-ordinated and introduced by Mrs. Carmel Murphy, who skilfully ‘threaded’ the entire ceremony with dignity and sensitivity.

Mrs. Murphy  informed us of the historical background and context of Ireland’s history over the centuries up to 1916. This was followed by the story of the men of the Mourneabbey Company of Irish Volunteers, presented to us by Muireann O’Callaghan, a 2nd year student, and descendant of Tadgh Mullane, one of those Volunteers. An amazingly vivid presentation of the reality of men’s commitment to nationalism at that time.

Dr. Alicia St. Leger, presently working on the history of Ashton, spoke of what life was like in Cork Grammar School during this period, when, simultaneously World War 1 was raging in the trenches of Europe.

Ultimately, the Easter Rising took place on Monday April 24th. The Tricolour was raised over the GPD and shortly after 12 noon, Pádraic Pearse stood on the portico of the GPO, and read the proclamation, declaring Ireland to be a Republic.

The Proclamation is one of the most important documents in Irish History. It was printed in haste in Liberty Hall the night before the Rising, having been written for the most part by Pádraic Pearse.

It is the only document of its kind that specifically mentions men and women on an equal basis, thus acknowledging the enormous contribution of women in the fight for freedom, and entrusting them with a future role in Irish Politics.

Head Boy Stephen Jermyn and Head Girl Ali Lynch read the Proclamation that was read 100 years ago, as everyone listened.

Subsequent to the Rising, there were arrests, deportations, executions of those involved. Among those executed were Thomas McDonagh, Pádraic Pearse, and Thomas Clarke on May 3rd 1916, and on May 4th 1916 at dawn, Joseph Mary Plunkett, Edward Daly and Michael O’Hanrahan were executed.

Alannah Bertwistle, a 5th year student at Ashton, told us of her story. She informed us that Thomas McDonagh, a signatory of the Proclamation was also one of the founders of the ASTI. Alannah’s grandfather, Derek Nolan went on to also become President of the ASTI.

This was followed by an endearing and uplifting rendition of that beautiful love song ‘Grace’, performed by the choir, directed by Mary O’Brien, assisted by Mr. Peter Storbart, Choirmaster St. Finbarr’s Cathedral.   It was penned by Joseph Plunkett for Grace Guifford, whom he married in Kilmainham Jail hours before he was executed.

Political turmoil followed, which Yeats expressed eloquently in his poem 1916:

‘All is changed, changed utterly, a terribly beauty is born’.

The 2016 Commemoration invites us to re-imagine, and to help us do this, A Senior Cycle student, Meg Lynch read a Proclamation for a future generation, encapsulating the wishes of many when she wrote ‘We hope and believe that Ireland will ever remain a land of tolerance, compassion, peace and learning’.

This was followed by the reading of a beautiful Irish ‘Guí’ (prayer), written by Ms. Marie Creedom, and read by 3rd year students Lily Thornhill and Ian McCutcheon, accompanied ar an bhfeadóg Mhór by Seán ó Riordán playing an Cúlainn.

Katherine Roynane and Nathan Whiting, 6th year Student Council representatives, were then invited to present a brief history of the Tricolour. Both students had the privilege of receiving this flag from President Michael D. Higgins last March in a ceremony at the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation in Waterford.

The Irish flag was first raised in Waterford by Thomas F. Meagher on the 7th March in 1848 when it flew for 7 days and 7 nights. In explaining the colours of the flag, he said ‘ The white in the centre defines a lasting Truce between the ‘orange’ and the ‘green’ and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of the Irish Protestant and the Irish Catholic may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood’.

The Tricolour did not see the light of day until it was raised over the GPO on Easter Monday 1916 when it also flew for 7 days and 7 nights. It was adopted as our national flag and given constitutional status in 1937.

When flying the flag, protocols have to be adhered to.   Nothing should ever be written on it. It should never touch the ground. When flown with other flags in Ireland, it must be the highest. The flag must always be treated with respect.   It is very rarely ever flown at night, but in this Centenary year, permission has been granted to fly the flag at night provided it is properly illuminated.

Ceremonies concluded with the raising of the national flag by Student Council members Robert Neff, Katy May O’Sullivan, Sarah Jere, Stephen Jermyn, accompanied by 1st year student Eric Ryskulov who played the ‘Last Post’ on the saxophone. Eoin Meikle 6th year, played the beautifully evocative ‘Mise Éire’ on the French Horn.   ‘Mise Éire’ /’I am Ireland’, was the title of a poem written by Pádraic Pearse. Seán Ó Riada Cúl Aodha, wrote the musical score to ‘Mise Éire’.  The ceremony concluded with a rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann, accompanied by the school choir, under the baton of Ms. Mary O’Brien, assisted by Mr. Peter Storbart.

A beautifully choreographed ceremony, during which, we remembered those who participated in so many ways, reflected on the impact of Irish history, and re-imagined the Ireland of the future, completed with poise, dignity, and élan.

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Head Boy Stephen Jermyn raised the flag, while Student Council members stood in dignified silence, as Eric Ryskulov played the National Anthem.

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