Should President Higgins not give Kent oration?

THE RE-INTERMENT of Thomas Kent, one of the executed 1916 leaders, should be a major national event. Yet it seems strangely muted. This may be because of the cynical decision to have the graveside oration given by Enda Kenny. Surely the oration should be given by the President Michael D. Higgins, above party politics, as it is a state funeral.

No doubt some who will be present will not want to reflect on the fact that this Irish Republican Army leader took part in a gun battle in which an RIC man, a 'fellow-Irishman', was killed.

Thomas Kent was a republican soldier, just as were the republican soldiers of subsequent generations. Many republicans will not be able to attend the funeral but our thoughts will be in Castlelyons and our tribute to Tomás Ceannt will be our ongoing struggle to implement the Proclamation of the Republic.

Ómós do Thomás Ceannt agus laochra uile na Poblachta.