Fancy dress in Cork - kill for King and the Kaiser

by Tim McGurk Sun Nov 09, 2008 13:37

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by Francis Ledwidge - Neither King nor Kaiser Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:49

The Cork Lord Mayor, Clly Brian Bermingham, thinks the gassing and slaughter of the European working class between 1914-18 should be celebrated. What better way to do it than to organise a fancy dress ball and 'and night of nostalgia'.

What should party revelers come as? As headless torsos, as limbless human beings. As men with their faces shot away perhaps.

Here are some images that might help the party goers experience some ideas for thrilling-killing nostalgia.

Since more Irish proportionately were executed by their own side (the 'British ' one, don't forget), maybe come as one of the Irish soldiers 'Shot at Dawn'.

Would You Believe RTÉ One, Sunday, 10.40pm, November 9, RTE

1918: SHOT AT DAWN

Among the many tragedies of Britain's World War 1 experience is the story of the 306 men 'shot at dawn', 26 of whom were Irish.

'Would You Believe' meets Dublin bus driver, Peter Mulvaney of the 'Shot at Dawn' (Ireland) Campaign which was instrumental in securing pardons for all 306 men.

Reporter Mick Peelo travels to England to meet with some of the families of the dead soldiers who've lived through 90 years of stigma to finally see their war dead rehabilitated.

These include 95-year-old Gertie Harris, the daughter of Private Harry Farr, executed though he had been hospitalised for five months for shell shock; and the O'Callaghan family, who rediscovered their lost ancestor Patrick Downey who'd been shot for disobedience after he failed to put on his cap.

Some 'British jazz' and a 'London singer' - what could be more appropriate in 'rebel' Cork (back of invitation)

Some ideas for fancy dress - Cork Lord Mayor Birmingham could use these ideas as a crutch

Come as an executed soldier - the Irish were four times more likely to be executed by their own side than other nationalities

British 'Dum-Dum' bullets discovered by the Germans in WW1 (see thread on this at REMEMBRANCE page)

by James C Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:09

This remembrance lark is getting a bit much. I wonder if ye have to pay in, and if so where does the money go to ?. When you think about it, the first world war was fought for the rich families of Europe. At the time the reasons given for fighting was the freedom of small nations like little Belgium, (Little Ireland did not classify as a small nation for some reason). The myth behind the reasons for England engaging in the first world war is the freedom of small nations, defence of democracy and liberty etc, etc etc. This weekend the queen has issued instructions for her family not to wear the poppy in case it offends foreign visitors. When did she ever worry about offending someone ?. If the Queen of England truly believed the reasons given for her country going to war, she would have no problem wearing her poppy. To think that millions died for the likes of her and her kind just so they could live an extremely lavish lifestyle is stomach churning . Its sad to think that in 2008 there are many people in Ireland who still believe the British propaganda news reels from WW1. I’m not sure if Mr Birmingham himself actually believes in all that nonsense about the reasons for fighting in the first world war. Maybe he just likes all things British, Blueshirts are like that. As its advertised as a night of nostalgia, don’t be surprised if he turns up in his full blueshirt uniform. A clowns outfit would be more appropriate.

by Munster Fusilier Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:45

“LEST WE FORGET”

The dead of WWI, or of any war, should not be commemorated with a fancy dress concert in the spirit of the ‘Good Old Days’ as this event has been promoted. This is dancing on the graves of the dead.
The Cork and Irish dead of WWI were already sufficiently abused and humiliated in their lives and in their deaths. They were killed in horrible circumstances and their ideals were then betrayed by the government they fought for. They died for a propaganda lie – “the freedom of small nations.”
When Ireland expressed its clear desire for freedom in the 1918 General Election what it got was the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries. All the latter being veterans of WWI and they burned down this City Hall along with countless other atrocities to show how much they cared for the freedom of this nation. How ironic that these same forces also killed two former Lord Mayors of the City whose busts patrons will pass on their way into this concert.
That First World War was fought to further the expansion and power of the British Empire – and for nothing else.
That war and the way it was ‘settled’ at Versailles ensured a century of warfare and we are still living with the consequences. All the tensions in the Middle East today arise directly from that war. The ‘war to end all wars’ and ‘the peace that ended all peace’ at Versailles ensured the 20th century was the bloodiest in human history. It is not a suitable subject for entertainment.
This concert is part of a series of celebrations, opening of so-called Peace Parks, etc., that claim to honour the Irish who died in WWI on the basis that they were ignored. Ireland never forgot the dead of WWI - that would have been a physical impossibility. It just did not celebrate Irish slaughter in Britain’s interest and it never should.
These commemorations seek to honour Irishmen no matter what uniform or what cause they died for. They seek to inculcate an attitude of indifference and amorality to war.
There is no thought conveyed by these celebrations. Their purpose is to cultivate the feelings that respond to the beat of the drum, and to stifle thought about the past, present and future involvement of Irishmen in wars.
In reality, their real purpose is to sanctify British militarist activity in the world, regardless of its particular object at a particular time.
Celebrate British militarism if you wish. Restore its hegemony over Irish public life if you can. But spare us the humbug.

Cork City Hall
8 November 2008