Mary McAleese has entered a robust defence of the commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising, though she notes that with anniversary of the Somme having a 90th anniversary there is “the potential to be a pivotal year for peace and reconciliation, to be a time of shared pride for the divided grandchildren of those who died, whether at Messines or in Kilmainhamâ€. Mark Brennock reports on the main themes. Speech below. for more click here
