By Dan Walsh at Oulart
The 5th annual Easter Commemoration took place at noon today (Sunday) at the Mise Éire monument in Oulart village honouring and remembering local volunteers from the 1916 Rising.
Guest speaker was James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government who claimed he was honoured to be asked to speak in Oulart on Easter Sunday.
“There is something unique in the 1916 generation. They saw nationalism as a way to bring people together, not to divide! They rejected the idea of nationalism as a way of asserting superiority of just one tradition,” said Minister Browne, who continued; “This way of seeing the nation is something that was missing in Europe at the time, and I believe it is one of the key reasons why ours is the only new State to have emerged after the first World War which survived free and more, who nevertheless worked together to strengthen this Republic.”
“All of this is to reflect that we have to drive on with the ambition of the men and women from Oulart and throughout Ireland in continuing to build an Ireland that serves its people which works towards the home emerging and even old and different divisions,” concluded Minister Browne.
Thirty-five names of the Oulart Company 3rd Battalion North Wexford Brigade were remembered with a roll call presented by Sean Dempsey.
The 1916 Proclamation was read by Peter O’Brien. James Adams sang ‘The Foggy Dew’, Eva Wiltshire played Róisin Dubh and The Boys of Wexford on the uileann pipes. Finishing off with Michael Collins and Amhrán na bhFiann beautifully performed by Cllr Mary Farrell.
Bridget Mythen acted as master of ceremonies and welcomed everybody. The attendance included Cllr Pip Breen, Cllr Mary Farrell, Willie French, Chairman of Wexford Historical Society, Pat Hackett, Membership Secretary Wexford Historical Society and local acclaimed historian and author Brian Ó Cléirigh.
Minister Browne signed the distinguished Book of Oulart, following in the footsteps of journalist Martina Devlin, Dr Ray Bassett, renowned newspaper editor, writer and historian Tim Pat Coogan and last year, Barry Lacey, the Ballycarney-born archaeologist and historian.
Refreshments were served afterwards at the renovated Bygone Days homestead.
The Mise Éire Memorial, designed by Oulart historian Brian Cleary with inscriptions by Paudric Doyle, Bunclody, and stonework by Martin Codd, Rathnure, opened on October 1st, 2017.
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