That 90th Anniversary of the First Dáil in full…

Those of who follow the doings of the House of the Oireachtas Commission, the body which oversees the running of the Houses may well have been entertained by the most recent notes (available as a PDF here).

For in relation to the 90th Anniversary of the First Dáil, we read the following:

7. 90th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST DÁIL – COMMEMMORATION PROPOSALS.
The Commission had before it for consideration a business case for the following programme of events proposed to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the first sitting of Dáil Éireann [07-07-08]:

(i) A Special Joint Sitting of the Houses in the Mansion House on 20th January;

(ii) The production of a souvenir national newspaper supplement which will also be sent to every primary and post-primary school;

(iii) The commencement of an Oireachtas Parliamentary Fellowship to post graduate students of Irish History beginning in 2009 and continuing up to the 100th Anniversary;

(iv) The creation of a photographic exhibition of 90 years of Dáil Éireann;

(v) The commissioning of an An Post Commemorative Stamp Stamp – to be confirmed – this may yet be postponed to mark 100th Anniversary; and

(vi) 90th Anniversary branding of Oireachtas literature, letterheads, etc.

The Commission was advised that the Special Joint Sitting of the Houses in the Mansion House is proposed for 20th January as the Mansion House is unavailable on 21st January.
The Commission provisionally approved the programme of events subject to the proviso that the Office attempt to resolve the issue of the reservation of the Mansion House for the 21st January which is the actual anniversary date and therefore the preferred date for the commemoration celebrations.

Impressive stuff, although that’s some problem they face there as regards the 21st, isn’t it? How on earth could it be that the Mansion House, spiritual home of our democracy (well, sort of kind of, some might look north of the Liffey to the GPO, but that’s a whole different discussion), would be unavailable on the actual anniversary of its first sitting?

And who could have had the foresight to have booked it for that day? Just who will the Office have to deal with as it ‘attempts to resolve the issue of the reservation’?

Why what’s this I read?

2009 will mark the 90th anniversary of the convening of the First Dáil. For Irish republicans today, the ideals and the objectives of the First Dáil – a sovereign, democratic, united Irish republic based on equality and social justice – remains a live political project. 

Sinn Féin is pursuing a political strategy to achieve this. Building the political strength to bring about fundamental political, social and constitutional change is key to that strategy. 

We seek to bring a new momentum to the achievement of a united Ireland by bringing together the greatest number of people in support of national democratic objectives. 

As a contribution to this Sinn Féin has invited people to join the daylong celebration of the 90th anniversary of An Chéad Dáil at the Mansion House on 21 January.

Nice to see someone remembered their history.