IRELAND: Independence Day

On Easter Monday 33 years ago a pale, impassioned schoolmaster named Patrick Pearse marched out of the door of Dublin’s General Post Office, hauled a flag of green, white and orange to the peak of the flagpole and in a ringing voice hurled a challenge at his British overlords: “Supported by her exiled children in America and by gallant allies in Europe … Ireland strikes in full confidence of victory . . . We hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a Sovereign Independent State.”

The words were answered by a rattle of gunfire. Ten days later Pearse was dead before a British firing squad. The Post Office itself was a smoldering ruin and Ireland’s gentle countryside was plunged into a wave of terror.

Gloomy Old Dev. In Dublin this week, before the rebuilt post-office building on O’Connell Street, Pearse’s challenge was read once again. It was answered once again by the roar of cannon. But this time the guns were firing orderly salutes. Ireland was formally a Republic. By the External Relations Act (passed last December and proclaimed this week) it had severed its last direct tie with the British crown. For the first time since Pope Adrian IV, 795 years ago, gave the island to England’s King Henry II, Ireland was independent in law as well as fact.

It was a great day for the Irish. In carts and jalopies, thousands poured into Dublin to join the celebrations. The green, white and orange flag flew high from every masthead and on almost every street corner banners greeted the day with the words: “Welcome the Republic of Ireland.” Only old Eamon de Valera was gloomy. “Public rejoicing is out of place,” he said, “so long as our country remains partitioned.”*

Good Old George. But on such a day, few got seriously worked up about that matter. Irish tempers, in fact, had simmered down a good deal since the old days. It might even happen, now that they had got rid of the Black & Tans for good, that the Irish might get to be friends with the British. To his former subjects, the King sent a touching message. “I pray that every blessing may be with you today and in the future,” said His Majesty. “God Save the King” sang Anne Maggie Crowley, a Dublin newsvendor, as she elbowed her way through the crowds, carrying a scribbled poster: “King George recognizes Republic!” Shouts of “Good Old George” mingled with those of “Up the Republic!” Mused a smiling Dublin policeman: “Times have changed. If that auld one had sung ‘God Save the King’ a few years ago, she would have finished up in the Liffey.”

*As a token that they do not recognize partition between Northern Ireland and Eire, the Irish dropped their country’s Gaelic name.