This is really baffling to me unless the intent of the discussion is to attack Martin Galvin, who certainly has got it from all sides for more then 40 years now. He can defend himself, for sure.
I would like to offer some background information on our organization and follow up with the complete text on the plaque.
In the spring of 2014 representatives from several Irish organizations as well as individuals came together to form the RI 1916 Committee to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising. We conducted many lectures, educational and social events and eventually built a monument to the Martyrs of 1916. This monument is located at the much larger RI Famine Memorial Monument in downtown Providence which is a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Famine and especially those who immigrated to Rhode Island during that time.
The committee did not go out of existence but continued to have monthly educational lectures at a local Irish Club. Incidentally a core group of activists in RI has held an annual Easter Rising Commemoration and Hunger Strike Commemoration each year since 1981. As the 40th anniversary of the Hunger Strike approached some of us began discussing the possibility of erecting a monument to the ten men. But Covid slowed down the process. As the pandemic eased we began serious planning but the biggest obstacle we had was getting permission from the Famine Committee to go forward. The objections from the leadership of that group were that the ten men were "radical republicans" and "terrorists". After months of debate we were able to get a majority of that committee to vote in our favor.
Then began the hard work of fundraising and deciding the wording on the plaque. There were frequent public meetings and everyone on our email list, including Seoirse who lives in RI, were invited to attend and participate. In less than a year the committee had raised $15,000 and it was done ten and twenty dollars at a time, with no matching grants, just ordinary Irish Americans making sure this incredible sacrifice was not forgotten in our small part of the world.. Admittedly the wording on the plaque was controversial especially mention of the GFA but as a democratic organization the majority thought it was important as it reflected Irish history, and it was included in the final draft. It wasn't until after this decision was made that Seorise sent an email objecting. For the record here is the complete text of the plaque:
1981 Hunger Strike
In the spring and summer of 1981, ten brave Irishmen fasted to death to fight Britain's attempt to criminalize their freedom struggle. The deaths of these ten men, and the international response to it, forced the British to change this policy and also created the conditions for the armed struggle to evolve into participation in electoral politics, leading eventually to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
WE HONOR THESE MEN AND MARTYRS
The names of the ten men are listed, five on each side, with a quote from Bobby Sands in the middle: "I may die but the Republic of 1916 will never die."
Obviously with the complete text, it can be seen that there was no inference that the men gave their lives for anything other than the five demands. At our dedication we had a very big crowd which included a former Hunger Striker, a family member of a Hunger Striker, and Bobby's brother, Sean Sands, who enthusiastically supported our efforts and has visited and was moved by the monument.
In conclusion, I want to say that I don't live in this world of heavy polemics that surround our monument in this blog/journal but felt I should respond due to the lack of context that seems to drive the discussion. Suffice it to say that I am saddened by the lack of progress to a united Ireland that can fulfill the aspirations of the Proclamation. But regardless of that I remain proud that we have erected permanent monuments to the martyrs of both the Easter Rising and the Hunger Strike here in Rhode Island and anyone visiting the monument can be inspired to further investigate these momentous events.
⏩Jim McGetrick is chair of the Rhode Island 1916 Committee.
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