As the centenary of the 1916 Rising approaches, we in St. Seachnall's N.S. remember and commemorate the events that took place 100 years ago. We especially remember James Fox who attended St. Seachnall's N.S. and who was killed in action in St. Stephen's Green on the 25th April during the Easter Rising. We reflect on what the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation would make of Ireland today. The Republic they so longed for has indeed taken its place among the nations. Our ancestors called for equal rights and opportunities for all. We have come a long way but there is still more work to be done. Having taken up arms for political reasons in the past,  Ireland is now a country with its own voice and we hereby proclaim that voice as Ireland's most powerful weapon against inequality and injustice. This newfound voice needs to be strong and determined to ensure that our hopes and vision for the future become a reality. 

First and foremost, we need equality in education. Although schooling in Ireland is "free", there are still many extra expenses  for parents and this puts some families at a disadvantage. Children  are among the most unfairly treated groups in our country. We strongly call for an end to child poverty and better funding for education so all of our children are cherished equally.

We aspire to an Ireland that treats all of its sick people fairly and with kindness. Nobody should be forced to wait for medical treatment if they don't have the money to pay, and those who have money shouldn't be able to jump the queue. We also need to improve facilities for people with disabilities both on public transport and in our cities and towns.

We believe every Irish citizen should have the basic dignity of a place to call home in an area which suits them and no child should ever be forced to leave a home where they feel comfortable, warm and safe.

We  feel there is much improvement needed to ensure gender equality in Ireland. Female representation in public and sporting life is improving but there is a lot more work to do and positive female role-models are needed for the next generation of children. An Ireland of the future should cater for religious diversity  in our schools and communities in general and show respect,  tolerance and acceptance of all races and religions.

Ireland is often referred to as the country of the thousand welcomes. This may well be true for tourists, but what about people who come here trying to escape troubled times in their own country? Many Irish people were taken in to other countries during the famine. We should be more mindful of this and welcome as many refugees as we are able to care for.

We proclaim the need to take better care of our environment. We must reduce our carbon footprint and work on our littering problem. Ireland is a beautiful country and we need to keep it green and clean for future generations.

Our ancestors have worked hard to preserve the Irish language and customs when they became endangered. We must continue this good work and keep the Irish language alive along with traditional music, poetry, dance, storytelling and games. Pádraig Pearse himself said that "Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam." Irish culture gives us our strong national identity  and it needs to be protected. We also enjoy and share in the cultures of those from around the world who now call Ireland their home.

We think people should be encouraged to work and contribute to society. Anyone who wants a job should be able to find one and workers should be rewarded with fair pay. Those who commit crimes should expect to pay the price. We aspire to an Ireland where everyone is treated the same regardless of race, gender or creed. It will be a place where anyone can achieve great things if they work hard for them.  Ireland can only become a better place if we all play our part. We have inherited this land from our ancestors and we will pass it on to our children. Let us pass on a country worthy of the sacrifices that were made by so many so we could finally call Ireland our own.