1916 Primetime Special: Was the Rising Justified? (Part 2)

In Part 2 of the programme, David McCullagh leads a discussion with Eamon O Cuiv, Michael McDowell,Prof. Ronan Fanning, Patsy McGarry, Kevin Myers and Ruth Dudley Edwards.
Part 1: • 1916 Primetime Special...
Part 3: • 1916 Primetime Special...
For more on the Easter Rising, visit our online exhibition: www.rte.ie/centuryireland/inde...
For all the stories from 100 years ago, visit www.rte.ie/centuryireland
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[@thomas20613]

God Bless all the men and woman of 1916, as far as I am concerned they are my Heros and i do not give one iota for those who disclaim them denegrate them and dispise them,all i would say is shame on you.

[@tullinadaly]

Patsy McGarry is actually more annoying than Myers and Dud Edwards, maybe he should've stayed writing articles about Jesus instead of lecturing a scholar like Fanning

[@seanredmond3112]

Excellent debate.I personally think Pearse would have traded his subsequent legacy for a democratic Irish freedom.He knew if nothing changed soon the spirit of the Irish people would never rise again.This, unlike what Edwards thinks, is his real legacy.

[@Bulshie]

What a lot of wasters.

[@khiggins7231]

My Grand Uncle from Galway died in Ypres in 1915.

[@stpat7614]

The good:

[@stallthedigger2599]

The Provo's were no different than the men who fought in the rising or the War of Independence. I definitely don't agree with everything they did but they had the support of the Nationalists in the North and were fully justified in using force against the foreign oppressors.The only reason the Provisionals are treated differently is because Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are terrified of losing their monopoly on power and Sinn Féin getting into government in the South. So they use their influence in the Dáil and in the media to discredit them at any opportunity. It's all political gamesmanship that thankfully the Irish people are copping on to according to the surge of support for Sinn Féin in recent elections. Though it has to be said the sheer incompetence and corruption of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil has played a big role as well.

[@mexicanpaddy]

Half of them are west brits, and have no idea of what really being Irish is.

[@bluechip297]

Eamon O'Cuiv kicking some ass.

[@Dannydantimpat]

Myers , Edwards , McGary are well known apologist for Westminster imperialism..

[@martinleo1818]

Truth Buddly - Backwards !

[@quapus]

Wonderful, heated dialogue regarding the justification for the Rising!

[@dennisdelany9098]

I would just make the point that the people who launched the Easter Rising conspired to disobey the orders of their superior officers in the Irish Volunteers and when the Treaty was signed the irregulars did the same thing. Collins hoped to use the Border Commission to make Partition unworkable. On the other hand it must be remembered that Carson and Craig were pushing to stop Home Rule so the Rising was in part a reaction to Unionist threats with connivance from the British officer class at the Curragh. It's a very complex matter.

[@conhoran8217]

It is interesting to see the difference of opinion between those who participated in the discussion Con Horan Newbridge Kildare

[@tomweldon7608]

34.37 is the FACT most important in this whole clip

[@mexicanpaddy]

People gave up their lives to set Ireland on a road to freedom, and even in death the “Irish” panel looks for ways to begrudge, belittle and blame them for the sacrifice.

[@jamesdolan4042]

It is highly unusual to put it mildly to hear Michael Mc Dowell unequivocally making the case for the legitimacy and justification of 1916 armed rebellion, yet during his political career as PD and Minister for Justice he vehemently opposed Sinn Fein and the PIRA.

[@bluechip297]

These programmes wouldn't even be happening if Sinn Féin weren't becoming a political power in all of Ireland.

[@m.k.s.7417]

Hi, I was wandering:

[@michidwyer4845]

How about was Britain justified in preventing Irish catholics from owning land voting and having no say in the running of their own country