Brian Walker: commemoration past and future

Based on recent experience, historian Brian Walker hopes that a decade of centenaries can be celebrated respectfully.

The next decade promises to be a time of renewed interest in our past as we mark a number of centenaries of important historical events.

There has been concern expressed that these events could lead to great controversy and even conflict. Nonetheless, there are good grounds for believing that this will not be the case and that such commemorations will bring beneficial outcomes.

Referring to the 1960s in his memoirs, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, former Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, described anniversaries as “the curse of Ireland”. He stated that commemorative events in the Northern Ireland calendar often annoyed or infuriated other people. Indeed, he remarked, “for some at least of the participants” this was a “principal attraction”.

During the last two decades, however, we can see many examples of efforts to use such commemorations to give a balanced view of our history. In 1998 there were extensive commemorations for the bicentenary of the 1798 rebellion.

The centenary in 1898 had been celebrated in a highly polarised political fashion, but there were very successful efforts to prevent this in 1998. The Ulster Museum presented a major exhibition on the subject, while a whole range of local history societies and community groups were able to explore this bicentenary in an informative and non-threatening manner.

Again, it is notable how commemoration of the First World War and the sacrifice of soldiers from all parts of Ireland has become a significant reconciling event, within Northern Ireland and between north and south. In the late 1990s, a Peace Park in memory of all the fallen from Ireland was built by volunteers from north and south and opened at Messines in Belgium by Queen Elizabeth and President Mary McAleese.

Most of these examples of commemorations relate to events where it has been possible to develop a sense of shared history. Some other historical events are likely to remain strongly appealing to one community but not others.

Even here in recent years we have seen efforts by supporters of some of these ‘single identity’ commemorations to explain their position and to make these events more respectful of others.

Since 2006 some members of the Orange Order have organised an Orangefest to run alongside their 12 July celebrations. Involving Ulster-Scots events and historical enactments, the aim is to make this event more tourist- and general public-friendly.

The evidence of how people have treated commemorations over recent years gives great hope for how the forthcoming decade of commemorations will be handled.

The first such major event, however, will be marked not just in Northern Ireland but all over the world. The Titanic (which sank on 15 April 1912) was designed and built in Belfast and many of the crew were also from the city.

The outbreak of the First World War and the involvement and loss of soldiers from all communities will be marked. It is likely that these will see strong cross-community support.

Already we can see efforts on this score. Belfast City Council has agreed that an invitation will be issued to the Irish Government to attend some of its forthcoming world war commemorations at Belfast Cenotaph, and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has stated that the Irish Government would respond positively.

There will be some events of special interest to unionists, such as the signing in September 1912 of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant, in opposition to home rule, and the 1921 foundation of Northern Ireland.

Others will be of special interest to nationalists and republicans, such as the Dublin Rising of 1916 and the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

A number of other events will have a broad appeal, such as the suffragette movement and the extension (although still limited) of the franchise to women in 1918.

Hopes are high that these events can be marked in a fruitful and non-controversial manner. Experience in recent years of handling such commemorations in a conciliatory and respectful manner give good grounds to believe that this decade of commemorations will be a positive and enlightening experience.

Professor Brian Walker lectures at the School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast.