Wexford defends its Norman heritage following comments from Sinn Féin TD – ‘We're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity'
Many of those events will take place across Co Wexford as places like New Ross, Carrig-on-Bannow, and Wexford town mark the legacy of the Normans since their arrival to Ireland over 900 years ago.
However, Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, has criticised the decision to take part in the celebrations, asking if this will be a precursor to 'a Festival of Cromwell or a Famine Queen Jubilee?'
'William was a foreign king who never set foot in Ireland, and had nothing to do with Ireland, and yet his birth will be given a higher honour than bestowed by an Irish Government on any figure from Gaelic Irish history,' said the Sinn Féin TD. 'This is not a commemoration for Ireland. Marking the birth of a future English king is not for us, even if it was 1,000 years ago.
'Of course we should acknowledge, protect, take pride in the rich architectural, cultural, and literary heritage that stands testament to Anglo-Norman Ireland, which lives on today in surnames and songs, and celebrate those brave Irish heroes of Norman descent who rebelled against the imperial yoke of England, as early as the 1360s through to the Desmond Rebellion through to United Irishman Lord Edward Fitzgerald, in whose Leinster House our Dáil now meets, and beyond.
'We should make the most of Ireland's Norman heritage to boost tourism, to create jobs, to support communities, and reinforce links with families tracing their Norman Irish roots and with other places who share a Norman heritage, but celebrating England's William the Conqueror, however, is a step too far.'
At the June meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC), following confirmation that the council was in contact with Normandy regarding events for 2027, Deputy Ó Snodaigh's remarks were discussed in the chamber by Councillors Lisa McDonald and John Fleming.
'His comments were unpalatable and unfortunate,' said Cllr McDonald, 'we've proven that we're well capable of commemorating our ancestry with sensitivity.'
'I've never heard such negative, dour comments, I can't understand it,' added Cllr Fleming. 'We're proud of New Ross and its Norman connections, Hook Head, Tintern Abbey, and we have the Norman Visitor Centre coming next year. Now we have some silly comments trying to put a stop to that. '
Director of services Eamonn Hore took time to clarify his feelings on the matter, admitting that it had taken him a while to 'calm down' when he'd first read the deputy's statement.
'If he wants to come down to Wexford we'll show him all that's good about the area and its heritage,' he said. 'And with regards to to Cromwell, Wexford people don't need any history lesson on that. I had a particular problem with him saying this wasn't well-prepared; since 2016 we've had the Norman Way in place and when we invited the president of Normandy to New Ross he was amazed at the influence of the Normans there.
"This is a way for the two regions to celebrate their history and culture – I must say I was very disappointed in what he said.'
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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