Speech
Minister Martin speaking at the launch of the 2021 Decade of Centenaries Programme, 27 April 2021
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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Go raibh maith agat, a Thánaiste. Ar an gcéad dul síos, ba mhaith liom tuairim cosúil le dearcadh an Taoisigh agus an Tánaiste a chur in iúl arís eile. Is linne go léir stair an chomóraidh seo atá ag druidim linn.
Our revolutionary past poses challenging questions and now - 100 years later - we are open, not only to considering these questions, but to discussing and debating them - and coming to our own conclusions. Never have we had such a wealth of resources to consult, visit and explore, and as a people we remain curious. Now is the time to engage with this forthcoming period of commemorations in all its complexity.
My focus, as Minister with responsibility for leading the Decade of Centenaries will remain on commemoration, remembrance and reconciliation. This does not mean that we ignore differences or divisions. However, we can as a people, approach the next phase of commemoration honestly and sensitively, recognising the legitimacy of all traditions with mutual respect and historical authenticity. This is our contribution to peace and reconciliation on our shared island.
There are many different perspectives and views as to the events and personalities that should be commemorated by the State over the remainder of the Decade of Centenaries and how all those whose lives were affected should be appropriately remembered. We will hear these debates played out over the airwaves, in the media and across the social media platforms over the next three years. However, the Expert Advisory Group has advised that the aim of the commemorations should be “to broaden sympathies, without having to abandon loyalties.” I share this view and the programme I am presenting today reflects the various themes and strands associated with this period of our history and creates a space for people to explore, engage, but also to enquire about the impact and legacy of these events.
The Programme brings together a number of exciting initiatives to encourage historical investigation with wide reaching exhibitions in our National Cultural Institutions. These Institutions are custodians of our history and culture; creating opportunities for people of all traditions to reflect upon the complexities of the events of this period and all the related themes. This year will see innovative new programmes and exhibitions to mark the centenary of the Signing of the Treaty, in both the National Museum and the National Archives and new digitisation projects and outreach programmes in the National Library. I am delighted that my own Department is supporting these new exhibitions and I would urge people to visit when it is safe to do so.
Over this final phase of the Decade of Centenaries, I will be encouraging an increased focus on creative and cultural initiatives. I firmly believe that these initiatives will have an important role in encouraging reflection, exploration and debate, allowing people of all traditions and all ages to question and consider issues which may be challenging, difficult and painful. I was delighted to announce a new artist in residence scheme in a number of our National Cultural Institutions, the Military Archives and the Beyond 2022: Ireland’s Virtual Record Treasury research project recently and this is just one innovative way we can bring our national collections to new audiences in new ways. I look forward to seeing the progress of these artists as they engage with some of the most fascinating collections we have.
Our local authority partners continue to be the cornerstone of our Commemorative Programme. From the beginning they have been supportive and enthusiastic co-curators of this Decade of Centenaries Programme, leading thoughtful, sensitive and innovative programming at local level. We are grateful for their leadership in this area and particularly in meeting the challenges presented by COVID-19. I know many events had to be cancelled or postponed last year and this year too but communities have reacted with innovation and creativity with interesting and accessible programming and I would like to thank them for keeping the momentum of the Programme going in such challenging times. I was delighted to provide significant additional funding this year to allow them to build on their work to date and create even more ambitious programmes at local level that will have a resonance long after the Decade of Centenaries.
There will be many legacy projects arising from the Decade of Centenaries Programme and I want one of these legacies to be a greater understanding of and appreciation for the role that women played in shaping the narrative of this revolutionary period – women were not just background figures supporting some of the more well-known people of this time, but influenced events in their own right as revolutionaries, politicians, thinkers, humanitarians, law-makers, campaigners, strategists, soldiers, administrators and disruptors. We have a wonderful opportunity to write these women back into our history and I am delighted that my Department will be launching, in the next couple of weeks, a new women’s strand for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries, working collaboratively with a range of partners. Together, we will curate and develop new online content to highlight women’s involvement in all aspects of this pivotal part in our nation’s history and make sure their stories are told in a sensitive and impartial manner.
2021 is the beginning of a final three-year programme of the Decade of Centenaries. I hope that this will allow a more holistic approach to the remainder of the Decade and will allow all of our partners and stakeholders to develop new programmes and initiatives over the next three years. I want this to be an open and collaborative programme and I want to thank my partners in Government and Local Government and colleagues across the Oireachtas for their support. Furthermore, institutions of learning, historians and custodians of records, our National Cultural Institutions, artists and creative communities, media and broadcasting partners also deserve our thanks for their contributions to date. I want to continue to open the Programme to new thinkers and new partners. The Programme is for everyone.
Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Maurice Manning, Dr. Martin Mansergh and their colleagues on the Expert Advisory Group for their constant support and advice. Under their stewardship, the Decade of Centenaries Programme has remained authentic and inclusive and we will continue this ethos over the next three years.
Tá de fhreagracht orainne féachaint siar agus cuimheamh ar bhunús ár náisiúin go cruinn, agus comóradh a dhéanamh ar na himeachtaí stairiúla sin go síochánta agus go tuisceanach chomh maith.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.