The Dublin Easter Rising celebration was dignified

As I have no access to the RTE stations, on Easter Sunday I watched the televised news channels of the BBC and UTV, to see their reporting of the commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising carried out by the government of the Republic of Ireland's 26 counties.
Irish Republic marching elements comprised of personnel drawn from Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, reserve Defence Forces, Defence Forces Veterans, and selected Emergency Services as they  march along O'Connell Street, as part of the 1916 Easter Rising centenary commemorations in Dublin. Photo: Defence Forces/PA WireIrish Republic marching elements comprised of personnel drawn from Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, reserve Defence Forces, Defence Forces Veterans, and selected Emergency Services as they  march along O'Connell Street, as part of the 1916 Easter Rising centenary commemorations in Dublin. Photo: Defence Forces/PA Wire
Irish Republic marching elements comprised of personnel drawn from Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, reserve Defence Forces, Defence Forces Veterans, and selected Emergency Services as they march along O'Connell Street, as part of the 1916 Easter Rising centenary commemorations in Dublin. Photo: Defence Forces/PA Wire

From what I saw on the BBC/UTV news channels, extreme reverence and dignity was most apparent throughout the whole of the celebration by the relatives of those who not only instigated the uprising, but also their supporters, men, women and children, who played their part as well, in the hope to achieve Ireland’s freedom and independence.

It goes without saying that I was comforted, as well as being encouraged for my children and grandchildren’s future, that there was not a sign of any the IRA or its affiliate organisations at this particular event, that was very well organised in every respect in Ireland’s capital city.

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The unification of any country cannot be gained, nor should it ever be gained, by the slaughter of humanity, whether the ills be religious or social. It is terrorism, be it the Islamic State, the Taliban, Ku Klux Klan or the IRA, to name but a few in the world today.

I view those who give/gave monetary or political support to such organisations are as guilty of terrorism as those who carry out terrorist deeds.

Harry Stephenson, Kircubbin