RELATIVES of the Easter Rising rebels have criticised plans by Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery to build a wall commemorating everyone who died in the Rising – including British soldiers.
A necrology wall is being planned by the trust that looks after Glasnevin Cemetery, due to be completed in 2016.
It would bear the names of all 485 people who died in the Easter Rising – including 107 British soldiers.
“That those who fought for their country and/or who lost their lives for their country should share a commemorative plaque or monument of any kind with those who on behalf of British Rule summarily abused and executed them could not be tolerated to any degree,” 1916 Relatives Association spokeswoman Deirdre Nic Éanruig told The Irish Post.
The plans for the wall were announced in October of last year, after the Glasnevin Trust collated the names of every person who lost their life in the battle between April 24 and April 29, 1916.
Many of the key figures from the Easter Rising, which kick-started Irish independence, were laid to rest in Glasnevin Cemetery - some after being executed by British soldiers.
Glasnevin is also the final resting place for Roger Casement, Countess Markievicz, Michael Collins and former Irish President Eamon de Valera.
Ms Nic Éanruig said that the group find the plans “abhorrent”.
“The membership of the Association were clearly of the opinion that the very idea of this wall was abhorrent to them,” she said.
The group has arranged to meet with the Glasnevin Trust tonight to express their formal opposition to the plans.
As it stands, the wall is slated to be unveiled this year.
A total of 485 people died in the Easter Rising - 262 civilians, 107 British soldiers, 58 rebels and 13 policemen.
A Glasnevin Trust spokesperson was unavailable for comment when contacted by The Irish Post.
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