The Rosary at Republican Commemorations? - AGAINST!

Cllr Johnny McGibbon
Ógra Shinn Féin

Irish politics has for a long time been associated in some way with religion; or most likely with religious division. How much influence religion has or had, will of course always be debatable. However, one thing can be said, no revolutionary movement can ignore the influence of religion. The attitude of revolutionary movements to these influences is something that is often the topic of huge debate amongst activists. And this latest issue, in my opinion, is an example of this.

I am referring to a debate around the saying of the Rosary at Easter Commemorations and other Republican Commemorations. The saying of the Rosary has been tradition at Republican commemorations in many parts of Ireland for many years, but in my view this practice is wrong. I must also say from the outset that I consider myself a Christian, whilst I do not practice in any church.


For centuries the British who have attempted to conquer our country, have attempted to foster religious division. They have tried to divide the people of this island by whatever means they can, so as to obtain a loyal section of the local population which they thought they could easily control. This is no more evident in the north were even through the latest period of our history they have continued to foster that division. This is in no small part a contribution to the many uneducated opinions out there, that Republicanism is a Catholic ideology or that the Republican struggle is a struggle for Catholics only. An uneducated view that I am sure we have all had put to us in the past.

But what this debate does is bring to light a number of key points.

It seems only natural to begin where it all really began. Most Republicans attribute the birth of Irish Republicanism to Wolfe Tone and the United Irishmen. A movement looked back on proudly by Republicans, it was led by people from all backgrounds in society.

Today we are still proud to believe in the ideal of “Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter.” But even in this period the Catholic Church was siding with the established order of the day. Although brave leaders like Father Murphy, eventually denied the orders of the Church and sided with their Presbyterian neighbours.

Similar stories can be told in the Church’s support of the Act of Union, when Orange Lodges throughout Ireland were protesting against it; the denouncing of Emmett, of the Young Irelanders and of the Fenians.

With Bishop Moriarty of Kerry infamously saying of the Fenians, “Hell is not hot enough nor eternity long enough to punish such miscreants.”

Further examples can be found in the condemnation of the Land League, as Irish people fought back against the foreign landlords extorting people living on their own land. Even Home Rule was denounced, and many would argue this was the most moderate of Irish movements.

All of this contributes to the point that there is no special link between Catholicism and Republicanism, and that quite often through history the politics of the Catholic Church have been wrong and in the interests of the Status quo. No less evidence of this is the policy of the Catholic Church to insist the Irish national flag is removed from coffins before it enters a chapel.

A policy of great offence to many Irish Republicans and something that has affected many of the very people we gather to remember at commemorations.

Over the years the Church has ousted brave priests who have spoke out in favour of revolution in Ireland, and so I feel it also relevant to make a distinction between Church and faith.

However, I still feel that saying the Rosary, inextricably linked solely to Catholicism is giving an unjust special significance to only one religion.

However, I do recognise that particularly in recent times, a lot of commemorations such as Easter Commemorations are held at Republican plots in Catholic Cemeteries. I also accept that a lot of our Patriot Dead are in fact Catholic and this must be respected. But this does not mean that the Republican movement is Catholic and it does not mean that Republican commemorations are Catholic commemorations.

On Easter Sunday we gather to remember all Republican activists have died for our struggle. Republicans of all walks of life, over various periods in struggle. It is not a fair reflection of Republicanism to say the Rosary.

I feel it also important to indicate that removing such a tradition as the Rosary, is not an act against faith. It is simply not identifying our politics or struggle with any particular religion.

Republicanism is not linked to a religion, nor is it about atheism. It is about an Ireland of Religious freedom, where all faiths are respected and no one in particular has a special position in society.

What makes this important is somewhat of a strange irony. As I have said the Church always sides with the establish order; survival is imperative. But what then happens in the case of successful revolution?

The record of the Church indicates that they change their position. As James Connolly put it, “They don’t put their eggs in one basket.”

So the importance of not allowing a special relationship to develop is apparent. Do we want a 32 County Free State where one Church is allowed a special standing in our country, and so by default other faiths are discriminated against? Or do we want an Ireland of Religious liberty, where we “cherish all the children of the nation equally”?

Religion has always been used to divide us in the past. By separating are politics from our faith, whatever that may be, we can build a new Ireland. I believe we will.

An Phoblacht Abú!