Arthur Griffith

This Friday marks the 100th anniversary of Arthur Griffith, founder of Sinn Féin and the chair of the Treaty delegation that negotiated the Anglo-Irish ...

He died unlike many of his great predecessors who were leaders in this country, a successful man having accomplished the thing to which he had set his life’s work, but he died a sorrowful man, and if it were not for the greatness of his heart and the magnificence of his mind, he would have died a broken-hearted man, for within the last two months of his life he looked out upon the moral desolation which, for the time being, darkened his country and stained its name both home and abroad – a moral desolation not merely in the ordinary acceptation of the term in which people think of dishonesty and disregard of individual rights, of reckless murder and and general insincerity, but also the moral desolation in a blindly dishonest outlook and attitude towards the national position and the effect of the nation’s Treaty of Peace Having achieved all he had laboured to achieve, he allowed no mere catch cries to turn him from his purpose, and his signature was his bond that he would accept and conduct his part of the bargain for as long as the other side carried out their part of the bargain.” The work to which he set his hand was a work which in time, attracted the attention and support of the nation by reason of the earnestness, the sincerity, and the selflessness of the efforts which he made to achieve the destiny of the nation which gave him birth.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said today that Griffith was a “key figure” in Ireland's history. “On the 100th anniversary of his death, we remember a key figure in ...

“His early death truly was a ‘calamity for Ireland’ as described by Michael Collins, who of course joined him in that desperate fate shortly after. He met with unionist leaders because he knew that the starting point for any discussion of our shared island had to begin with fair play and understanding between all sections. A number of other events are taking place today and over the weekend. Arthur Griffith contributed so much to political thinking; founder of the first Sinn Fein party, he displayed extraordinary commitment throughout a formative period in our history, ” Martin tweeted. “His vision was broad and inclusive. “Even those who opposed him on the Treaty respected him.

Independent TD Matt Shanahan felt compelled to organise an impromptu commemoration event at Leinster House.

“He contributed so much to political thinking; founder of the first Sinn Féin party, he displayed extraordinary commitment throughout a formative period in our history,” he said. Mr Griffith’s family members lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in the grounds of Leinster House, 100 years on from his death in 1922. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: “Today we commemorate Arthur Griffith on the 100th anniversary of his death. “The likes of Michael Collins died in battle, was much more high profile and so well known. He made an enormous contribution to Irish independence. Only a very small number of TDs and senators were present.