Easter Rising – fostering leadership, volunteerism, and self-sacrifice

With the 1916 commemoration approaching there are calls for debates on what it means, its legitimacy, and its relevance in contemporary Ireland. The focus on violent elements of the uprising is one of the topical areas for discussion. However, I suggest that the commemoration is as much about leadership as it is about nationalism.
We are commemorating leaders, men and women who inspired another generation of leaders who would play a part in developing the Irish State, as we know it. One of these was my own grandfather. It was these leaders and many, many others who, not just at a national political level, but also at local level too that began to take the gun out of Irish politics.
Many of those who have played a role in trying to the take the last remaining guns out of Irish politics have been inspired by our previous generation of leaders, such as Bertie Ahern, Albert Reynolds, Garret FitzGerald, Dick Spring, John Hume and Gerry Adams.
Here, I wish to discuss the ideals of leadership, volunteerism and self-sacrifice evident during 1916 within a more contemporary setting, while at the same time acknowledging that these practices have been very evident throughout the last 90 years, particularly so amongst many of the elderly in our communities.
In simple terms we have much to learn from the thinking, feeling, and actions of the men and women who fought for an Irish republic in 1916.
To commemorate 1916 is not only an opportunity to recall a particular form of leadership but also to instil or foster the value of leadership, within our own generation and the children who will lead the next.
The commemoration of 1916 is a chance for children in primary schools to see a contemporary relevance, to see that leadership in local communities is a valuable and vital aspect of society. That leadership may manifest itself in volunteering to help local community groups or attempting to actively form them, joining sporting bodies, political parties, or simply helping the elderly in the community. This same leadership does of course require both volunteerism and self-sacrifice.
To suggest that young people don't care about such issues or that some how the past was gloriously different maybe premature, even Michael Collins was disturbed by the lack of engagement of the ‘young ones' after his release from Frongoch in 1916. It is an opportunity to inspire a spirit of leadership, volunteerism, and self-sacrifice within the context of our communities.
By acknowledging 1916 we are I believe, commemorating the role that the elderly have played in the development of Irish society. We are in a sense acknowledging those of the past, the people who have given us the opportunities we have today. The economic success of the last decade has given confidence and inspiration to many but should we forget those that contributed so much to Irish life from a economic, social, cultural, political, and sporting perspective in the previous decades, both within and outside Ireland.
Therefore, the role of the elderly in particular must be acknowledged.  It is a chance for many of us to say, thank you, to those generations of leaders throughout the previous decades, the leaders in towns, villages, social groups, and committees etc. that have lead and still do.
To take part and lead in our own communities takes time and resources and commitment from ourselves. It means self-sacrificing, going down to that meeting, driving the players to matches, cleaning and tidying our towns etc. At present, so many people are involved in such activities, many are our elderly. This is a chance for us to say, look at these people, look at what they have done, the leadership and sacrifices they have made.  The generations of the future have much to learn; leadership and volunteerism is something to aspire to.
Thus, the responsibility falls on us. In our schools the teachers can explain and recount the events of 1916. It is up to us to inculcate the ideals of leadership and volunteerism in our children so that they follow in the footsteps of so many of our elderly who contributed so much to Irish society. Yes, we can debate about the socialist ideas of James Connolly, or the violent acts of the rebellion it self, or the romantic ideas and idealistic thoughts of Pearse, but we can also attempt to tie those practices of leadership, volunteerism and indeed self-sacrificing to a more contemporary ideal of what we feel is a desirable aspiration.
Instead, maybe we should ask are the ways of thinking and feeling in 1916 about leadership, volunteerism and self-sacrifice more appropriate for our own communities of today.
Chris Andrews is a Fianna Fáil candidate in Dublin South East
chrisandrews2007@eircom.net