• The Irish poppy

    There’s been an interesting debate in the UK over the use of the poppy by newscasters and TV presenters.

    Amidst the whole discussion I got thinking; why is the poppy such a rarity in Ireland? As we were reminded at this years commemoration of the Battle of the Somme, Ireland has lost many men in the two World Wars and yet there is no obvious sign of a public willing to remember them (but that’s not to suggest that we need to wear a badge to remember people).
    I have just posted these thoughts on Boards.ie’s Politics forum, and there seems to be the notion that the poppy is a British thing, but while it is sold by the Royal British Legion for British servicemen/women they do not hold domain over the idea.
    With the official commemoration of the Battle of the Somme, we as a country seemed to move on just a little bit. We’re no longer ignoring the fact that Irishmen fought alongside the British against a common enemy (with many doing so in the belief that it would further the Nationalist agenda). So why no poppies?

    I’m not suggesting the RBL come to Ireland to sell the poppy, all proceeds of which will quickly leave the country again, I’m asking why no Irish organisation for Irish veterans, servicemen and servicewomen has not been set up to do the equivalent over here?
    The poppy seems to be quite a charged symbol here, but that’s more through public perception than the original intention of the gesture, and I think it’s another wall we as a country should be ready to overcome.

    Britain and the RBL don’t have exclusive rights over commemorating the dead and I doubt anyone would try to claim otherwise, it just seems that many Irish have assumed that they do. The red poppy is just as fitting to remember the Irish as it is the French, German, British, American etc. etc. from any and all wars.
    I hope that soon the country as a whole will finally get over the fact that we do share a lot in common with Britain, but that in itself doesn’t make us any less Irish. As it stands I can’t help but get the feeling that many Irish people see the poppy as a symbol of British imperialism rather what it’s actually about; remembering the heroes.

    Edit: Just in relation to a comment made by Keith and the links he provided; as I said in the comments, it still seems to me that the poppy could be used by an Irish organisation, distinct from the RBL, to commemorate Irish soldiers of the World Wars or of any war… either way I do think it’s a shame that we lack such a symbol, even if it isn’t a red poppy.

    Edit 2: As the discussion develops over on boards.ie, it strikes me that people simply see the red poppy as a British thing, and even though it could be used by an Irish organisation in an Irish context, it would not be accepted… I still cannot understand why no symbol exists to remember the Irish who have fought and died around the world; and perhaps the Easter Lily is the option with the most potential as we go into the future… of course it would need to be taken back from those who claim it now and de-politicised and who knows if that would or could happen.