Dunmanway centenary commemoration
Senator Lombard described a commemoration in Dunmanway for the 100th anniversary of the shooting of 13 Protestants and stressed reconciliation and acknowledgement of the past. Another Senator endorsed his remarks, and the Chair thanked him and called the Leader to respond.
Yesterday evening I took the unusual course of action of going back home to Cork to attend an event. I went back to Dunmanway at 5 o'clock yesterday evening. There was a commemoration of an event that happened 100 years ago, when 13 Protestants were shot in a 24-hour period in Dunmanway. Hundreds were relocated out of the area. It was an unfortunate and ugly part of Irish history. It is a part of our Decade of Centenaries, where we have to celebrate the good, the bad and the ugly. Unfortunately, this was one of the ugly parts of what happened 100 years ago. Church of Ireland families in that part of Cork were isolated, relocated and 13 of them were shot in a 24-hour period. I commend Bishop Colton on his amazing ceremony yesterday. The way he handled this sensitive issue needs to be acknowledged.
Comment on this
It was a sensitive issue for the people of Dunmanway, in particular, and the entire Bandon Valley area. We had families come from the North and the UK to attend the event. Their loved ones were tragically shot 100 years ago in that 48-hour period. It brings home that this is about reconciliation, trying to move forward and to acknowledge exactly what happened. It was not all triumphalism or saying it was all for the greater good. Unfortunately, people on all sides were grossly affected and, 100 years later, they carry their scars. It was a privilege for me to be there, meet the families and talk about it. They were talking about their great-great-grandfathers and great-great-granduncles. That was an acknowledgement that we need to start talking about moving forward but we should never forget what happened. It is important that, at some stage, we should have an acknowledgement in this Chamber of what happened in the Bandon Valley. Eleven men and two teenagers were slaughtered on that occasion.
Comment on this
I thank the Senator for bringing up that important topic from 100 years ago that is still relevant today. He is right that it would be appropriate for this Chamber to discuss that issue. It is important to acknowledge the past in order to make a better future. I call on the Leader to respond to the Order of Business.