Come Here To Me!

The famous Jarrow Crusade of 1936.

I’ve just been on Liveline, which was a new experience.

I was approached to give a bit of historical context to the march on the capital by a group of South Kilkenny men who are completely fed up with how things have turned out for them and indeed all ordinary people in this state in recent times. Some of them are now unemployed, others have had to wave children off at the airport. In short, they decided to march onto the capital because in years to come none of them could stomach the idea of saying ‘we sat back and watched’.

In my brief time on air, I spoke about a 1953 march on the Dail, dealt with here before by Sam. In that piece, Sam wrote that

Jubilant scenes follow when the news is spread that the march will make its way down to the Dail, “the first time such a protest has been held at its gates”.

Now, taking your anger to the gates of the Dail is routine. Walking so far to do it however is not. It is an incredible act on the part of these men.

We are supposed to have come a long way from the doom and gloom of the 50’s and later the 80’s, but have we really? Tomorrow, those men will begin their march on the Dail, passing so many areas of historical importance. They will begin at Kilmainham Jail, where the leaders of the 1916 insurection were executed, and will pass the spot where Robert Emmet was hanged. Along the way too, Dublin Castle, for so long the fortified home of the British administration in Ireland. Yet a ‘free’ Ireland, appears to be one of great economic and social divisions and barriers, and a nation that could be described as on a life support machine.

Post independence, we know Dublin Castle as the place where Bertie Ahern went to justify(or talk away) his actions before a Tribunal. What a sad, sad reflection on our state.

I ended my brief time on air today by quoting a few lines from the great folk singer Liam Weldon, about how those who died for liberty “have died but for a dream.” We are living through extraordinary times to say the least, and I was delighted to be asked to show these men some historical spots in the capital on their way to the Dail. Like them, I just hope in decades to come I can say I didn’t sit at home through this incredible chapter of Irish history.

You’re more than welcome to join them, they will set out from Kilmainham Jail at 12 tomorrow.

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