It's the birthday of Irish poet and patriot Padraic Pearse, born in Dublin (1879). Though he spent most of his short life as an academic and writer, he's best known as a leader of the Easter Rising of 1916, a failed Irish rebellion against Britain.
He wrote:
The beauty of the world hath made me sad, This beauty that will pass. […] Things bright and green, things young and happy; And I have gone upon my way Sorrowful.
Pearse began studying Gaelic at the age of 12. He joined the Gaelic League, an organization dedicated to the revival of the language and culture. He thought that the British-imposed school system stripped young people of their Irish identity. He believed that the Gaelic language was a fundamental part of Irish identity, and so he set out to establish bilingual schools in Ireland.
Eventually, Pearse became convinced that Irish independence could be obtained only by revolt. He was recruited into the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and because he was so eloquent, was chosen as the group's spokesperson. He helped organize the Easter Rebellion of 1916, and from the steps of the General Post Office in Dublin, which the rebels had taken over, he proclaimed: "We declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies."
He was declared the provisional president of the provisional Ireland. Militarily, the Irish rebels didn't have a chance of winning. British troops destroyed Irish property and slaughtered civilians. Six days later after his initial proclamation, Pearse delivered a speech of surrender. He was captured by the British, imprisoned, and a week later, at the age of 36, executed by a firing squad.
Happy Birthday Dundee!!!! Hope you have a great day.
Val
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"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
And happy Happy to the people that I missed, and all those with birthdays today!!!!
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]AN EXCERPT FROM A POEM THAT I WROTE ON 10/11/07
WE CAN'T CHANGE WHAT WE HAVE DONE.... BUT ONLY TAKE A LESSON FROM EACH EXPERIENCE AND MAKE THE MOST OF EACH MINUTE THAT WE HAVE LEFT AND TELL OURELVES THAT IT IS OK TO LIVE, LAUGH AND CRY..... PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO GIVE US WHAT WE CAN AND SHOULD EXPERIENCE AND WE NEED TO CHERISH ALL OF THE TIME THAT WE SPEND WITH OURSELVES AND OTHERS MAKING THE MOST OF THE SPECIAL MEMORIES THAT ARE OURS.. AND THE ONES THAT WE HAVE YET TO CREATE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T MET!!!!![/SIZE]
Had a great day. Dundee, sorry I missed your birthday Daughter had a new grandson last week and I was on grandpa duty. Hope your day was full of redheads, whiskey, and frolicking.
Had a great day. Dundee, sorry I missed your birthday Daughter had a new grandson last week and I was on grandpa duty. Hope your day was full of redheads, whiskey, and frolicking.
Congratulations on your new Grandson. What a wonderful early birthday present.