The determination of Presbyterians and others not to allow
Roman Catholics and Republicans to claim the 1798 United Irishmen's
Rebellion as theirs alone is to be applauded. The celebrations
of 1898 - the first anniversary - were made into such a one-sided
remembrance of '98 that it caused violent Protestant reactions,
one of them was the destruction of a Betsy Gray memorial statue
at Ballynahinch, the scene of her exploits as a rebel heroine.
The second centenary celebrations promise to be more balanced
and true to the realities of the times. The new books on the
subject are a considerable aid to a much better understanding
of the causes and effects of a campaign intended to affect
the British connection, and to change for ever the philosophical
and political direction of the country. The story of the Rebellion,
told in detail in prose, poetry, pictures, portraits, profiles
and battle maps makes for good, if not always easy reading
and hearing. There have been many lectures, media features,
debates and discussions on the subject. And exhibitions and
pageants planned and mounted by amateurs and professionals,
especially in the few areas where the United Irishmen flourished
briefly and their offensive ended ingloriously. The story
of '98, which has always been bedevilled by misinterpretation
and misunderstanding, appears now to be benefited by the researches
of writers and speakers anxious to "tell it as it was",
to present their studies with an honesty and sincerity entirely
commendable and free of the bias which characterised the contributions
of some of their predecessors. Because the aim here is simply
to comment on what is available for reading, hearing and seeing
on a subject of continuing relevance to us - the relationship
of Great Britain and Ireland - we shall not attempt to write
anything in depth on it. Suffice to say that '98 has lessons
for a country divided and weakened by its inability to accommodate
dissimilar religious and political attitudes, aims and aspirations
in a peaceful environment. The Rebellion of 1798 has been
a fertile source of story and song, fact, fiction and fantasy.
It has courage and supreme sacrifice in it, the actions of
stars and bit players in a drama of major importance for a
country which lurches from one dramatic episode to another
with often alarming and horrifying frequency. But if there
is courage and selflessness in the story of the United Irishmen
there is also extreme cruelty and gross bestiality in occurrences
of sectarian hatred and merciless wickedness. It is the more
scandalous that reprehensible, shameful, deeds were done by
religious leaders and people in the name of a Christianity
which totally condemns such behaviour, and promises fearful
consequences for those guilty of heinous crimes against other
people. There was one kind of conflict in the Northern Counties
of Antrim and Down affected by the rising, and where the main
combatants were Presbyterians and forces of the Crown. The
Presbyterian United Irishmen were mainly concerned to overthrow
the British/Irish establishment and to remove the prevailing
dominance of Anglicanism in the religion, politics and economics
of the country. While there were those among them who were
republicans, by no means all of them were opposed to the Crown.
The situation in the Southern counties affected by the rising
was different. There sectarianism was rampant and records
of horrific happenings make for blood-curdling reading. Protestants
were put to the fire and the pike in well chronicled events
of never-to-be-forgotten infamy. Wexford Bridge and Scullabogue
are place names in a story of ethnic cleansing before the
expression became common place everywhere in the world. It
is important for those interested in '98 to take advantage
of what is on offer in bookshops and libraries; attend where
they can hear lectures on the subject; view the exhibitions
of data to do with the United Irishmen; learn from the media
productions in sight and sound; the spectre, or participate,
in a pageant commemorating the events of the period. Perhaps
it is more realistic to suggest that interested parties be
selective in their choices of what it is possible to see and
do within the limitations of time and energy. One thing should
be said, the subject of the United Irishmen and the Rebellion
of 1798 needs to get the rational, logical and lucid examination
it deserves free from the sentimental and emotional additions
and amplifications of fiction and faction, the coupling of
fact and fiction, which do little or nothing to discover and
uncover the truth of what was attempted and prevented 200
years ago.
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