An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 22 | A 'Terrible Beauty' Remembered by PTE EOIN O'SHEA, D COY, 7 INF BN T he centennial commemoration of what was, arguably, the most defining single event in the creation of an independent Ireland took place on Easter Sunday, 27th March, 2016. Having served in the RDF for almost a year, I – along with many of my 7 Inf bn colleagues – had the privilege of being included in the Dublin parade. A section of us 'patrolled' as part of a re-enactment of troops from 73 Inf bn serving in Lebanon in 1993. As the parade drew near, I found myself considering the significance and the modern relevance of the sacrifices made some 100 years ago. While no historian, I have been struck by the scale of tragedy, pride, divisiveness, sacrifice, and eventual national independence that were the legacy of Easter 1916. What resonated even more were the subsequent living, breathing, rich narratives of many Irish families, including my own. My grandfather, Andrew Fitzsimons, born in Dublin on 23rd June 1916 to a very national- ist family, recalled standing outside Mountjoy prison at four years of age with his parents as Kevin Barry, a young medical student and Irish Volunteer, was hanged for his part in an attack that left three British soldiers dead. The outrage following this execution seemed to remain with my grandfather; he chose 'Kevin' as his confirmation name and used the name throughout his adult life. He went on to serve as a captain in the DF during the Emergency. My uncle, Sean Fizsimons, also served in the PDF, as an enlisted man. He served overseas in the Congo and Cyprus and was proud to be included in the guard of honour during Presi- dent Kennedy's visit to Ireland in 1963. We know their dream; enough To know they dreamed and are dead; wb Yeats, 'Easter 1916' Members of the 73 Inf Bn Lebanon (1993) 'patrol' the streets of Dublin Members of the 1993 Lebanon group on Pembroke Street before the Parade begins The procession of UN vehicles crosses O'Connell Bridge before passing the GPO Capt Kevin Fitzsimons who served during The Emergency (1939-1946) Pte Sean Fitzsimons seen here during service in the Congo (1961-62)

• Cover