Impression sketch
of Ireland Flag Day Fundraising Pin Badge - by Jamie. An original image can be
seen at:
<http://www.britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/product/k1b-95-ww1-irish-soldiers-ireland-flag-day-fundraising-pin-badge/>
[Accessed: 19 March 2016]
Coinciding on a
day of celebration,
17 March 1916 saw
Irish Flag Day,
Stand alongside
the feast of Saint
Patrick - A woman
led organisation
Saw the
distribution of the green
Flag as a
national commemoration,
For soldiers from a sister nation.
A green flag
with harp was distributed,
To be sold by the
metropolis ladies,
To number 3000 - Trafalgar Square
Filled with singing
strains of 'Wearin'
Of the Green' -
alongside these flags
The traditional
shamrock was worn,
In English
appreciation of Irish troops.
Across the
water to that true emerald
Isle, laid the
heart of the festival day -
The start being a
man of Roman times.
As a youth kidnapped
to Gaelic lands
To be slave for
Irish raiders - eventually
To find god who
led him to the coast,
Where a boat
would guide him home.
With his faith
found, Patrick became
A priest and with
his love for Ireland
Returned, to
convert many people
To Christianity -
by teaching methods
He likely utilised
a three-leaved plant,
To explain the
holy trinity - a common
Shamrock became
Patrick's symbol.
Centuries later saw
1541 make unity
Of Personal Union,
when kingdom
Came the English
King of Ireland -
But lack of
reform to break minority
Rule of
Anglo-Irish, led to United
Irishman
rebellion 1798 - a crushed
Uprising made a 1800 Act of Union.
Yet a protestant
parliament of Ireland
Was a false
representation of people,
Whose majority had
held catholic
Discontent - quickly founded as
Oppositions
manifested in various
Forms, to seek
independent Ireland -
100 years on saw
further changes.
From emerging various
groups that
Came by 1905, Sinn
Fein for an Irish
Nation, in confronting the illegality
Of 1800 act of
Union - a Parliament
For the Irish
allowed only land owners
To vote and
Protestants to sit within -
Challenges emerged by varied leagues.
Standing by each
other, men of Ireland
Joined the cause, to fight against
Germans invaders
or European peace -
Irish regiments
filled with volunteers,
All gave the
impression of union
Solidity - across
waters from different
Dominions perhaps
to mirror Australia.
Friday 17 March
1915 and Politician
Andrew Fisher, High Commissioner
For Australia, made a speech at London
Irish Club - a
government leader over
Three occasions
for his country,
Fisher expressed
sympathy for the Irish
Who were among
best of Dominions.
Among his underlying words Fisher
believed how Ireland, with
deep roots
Of national
sentiment, would find full
Free expression, on a day not long
Away - that they
shall show enemies
how freedom and
liberty to manage
Own affairs, should be greater than life.
To repeated
cheers Fisher made
Feelings known that
across world,
Ireland not just
spoke but acted -
How, whatever
might be done
Or not done, Ireland would remain
And stand true to
the crisis end -
Yet what enemy
was suggested?
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Mr
Fisher on Irish Loyalty. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18 March 1916. P.11. Col.3. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12196041/Daily-Telegraph-March-18-1916.html
[Accessed: 19 March 2016].
Anon.,1916. Irish
Flag Day. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 18 March 1916. P.12. Col.7. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12196041/Daily-Telegraph-March-18-1916.html
[Accessed: 19 March 2016].
Source: File:
Saint Patrick's Day. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day>
Accessed 19 March 2016
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 19 March 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #WW1Ireland
