Emotions ran high in the North City centre last Sunday as thousands gathered outside the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square to demonstrate against clerical abuse during Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland.
The ‘Stand4Truth’ rally, fronted by Colm O’Gorman, assembled outside the GPO on O’Connell Street at approximately 2pm before migrating north to Parnell Square an hour later. Crowds continued to congregate throughout the ceremony, with approximately five-thousand individuals accumulating to demonstrate against the Catholic Church as its pontiff – Pope Francis – concluded the World Meeting of Families visit to Ireland with a mass in the Phoenix Park.
Speaking to a number of demonstrators from a range of ages and ethnicities, there was clearly a range of negative feelings towards the Pope’s visit, as well as the Catholic Church. Earlier that day, the pontiff addressed the history of clerical child abuse, and begged the Irish public for forgiveness. This apology was not met with much hospitality from many of the demonstrators, who dismissed the apology as “not nearly enough.”
Lead by Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, the presentation saw a number of emotional speeches as well as performances by artists including Hozier, Mary Black and Brian Kennedy. O’Gorman, who is also a member of the Social Democrats, recalled to the audience his experience of clerical abuse. He said that in his case, along with others he had spoken to, he felt that the abuse suffered, “was not the worst part,” and that having his accusations dismissed and being called a liar was far more harrowing.
Following the two-hour ceremony, demonstrators and organisers embarked on a silent march down O’Connell Street and onto Cathal Brugha Street, carrying their collection of homemade signs, bicycles, flags and babies’ shoes. The eerily silent group then gathered on Sean McDermott Street outside the site of Ireland’s last Magdalene Laundry to close, which shut its doors in 1996.
The mood throughout the crowd was one of great remorse, sorrow and anger. Many of those who attended were former victims of abuse, as well as family members and other activists. There were notable faces in the crowd too, including Paul Murphy TD of the Irish Solidarity–People Before Profit group, whose banners could be seen scattered amongst the sea of blue signs. Former Tanaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton TD also made an appearance.
Meanwhile in the Phoenix Park, organisers of the pontiff’s mass were met with an underwhelming attendance, with crowds numbering roughly 350,000 short of their estimated 500,000.
Fashionably dated analysis to follow.
Evan O'Gorman 