Mattie McGrath Demands Commemoration for Michael Hogan
Mattie McGrath challenged the Taoiseach over commemorations for Michael Hogan, killed 100 years ago, and criticised the Taoiseach's travel during COVID and wearing the poppy. McGrath asked what the government will do to honour those killed by the Black and Tans and urged a commemoration despite pandemic restrictions.
Parliamentary question
McGrath asked the Taoiseach what the government will do for the late Michael Hogan, saying he was murdered in Cope Park 100 years ago with many wounded by the Black and Tans and Crown forces. He described Hogan as a young footballer and pressed for government action to commemorate those people.
Local commemorations
The speaker said the GA and Tipper Bay have done their best to hold small commemorations at three different graves in different places. He warned that these gallant men risk being abandoned and forgotten and asked whether the government will support a formal remembrance.
Government response
The Taoiseach replied that the commemoration unit in the department has engaged with the Gaelic Athletic Association and that there will be a commemoration on the 21st of November with COVID restrictions attached. He also said a state commemoration in Cork, linked to events including the burning of Cork, was due but delayed by COVID and is hoped for in early December if level five restrictions are scaled back.
On travel and symbolism
McGrath criticised the Taoiseach for travelling during COVID times and noted the wearing of the poppy, invoking memories of the late Gordon Wilson. The Taoiseach defended the annual visit to that event as an important signal and said he believes in doing commemorations properly and informing future generations.
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Okay, you did go to say in a skilling last Sunday, and I have no issue with that in normal times, and you wore the poppy, and we all have memories of the late Gordon Wilson, but Taoiseach, traveling in COVID times I think is questionable. I'm going to ask you now, what are you going to do for the late Michael Hogan, 100 years ago was murdered in Cope Park with many others, and many wounded by the Black and Tans and its Crown forces, and what is this government going to do to commemorate those people? You were, at the early end of the year, the previous government was talking about commemorating the Black and Tans. These are our own people, and it's 100 years ago this week that Michael Hogan was murdered by the Black and Tans. Michael Hogan lost his life, a young footballer. I'm asking you, the GA and Tipper Bay have done their best to have kind of small commemorations at three different grave ads at different places. What are your government going to do to commemorate those gallant men that give us the games they're going to watch this weekend, and your own family playing those games as well, and give us that legacy, and now they're being abandoned and forgotten about by the government? Are you going to have a commemoration for them, in spite of COVID, because they deserve it? Thank you, Deputy Taoiseach. Thank you, Deputy Taoiseach. First of all, there will be, and the commemoration unit in my department have been engaged with the Gaelic Athletic Association. My understanding is there will be a commemoration on the 21st of November, with COVID restrictions obviously attached, to honour and commemorate Michael Hogan. We were due, sorry? Sorry? Yeah, but you asked about Michael Hogan, I'm just giving you the response, and there was, we were due to have a state commemoration in Cork, in relation to a number of events in Cork, particularly the burning of Cork. And unfortunately, COVID has impacted on that, but we're hoping to do it in early December, when level five restrictions, hopefully all going to plan will be scaled on, and we'll exit from level five. I believe in commemoration. I believe in doing it properly and informed and, you know, doing everything we possibly can to inform this generation and future generations and provide insights into our past, that is very important. Thank you, Taoiseach. And I regret that you kind of compared it with going to NSK, and we, you know, I think that's an important event to be there as well. It's an important signal as well to send and to be there, and successive Taoiseach have made that an annual visit, and it's well received. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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