Our CEO, Jillian Brennan, delivered the humanist reflection at the 2022 National Day of Commemoration in Collins Barracks on Sunday 10th July. The event honours all those Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations.

Humanist Association of Ireland – Reflection

The page has turned, and those who have died
will not be in the next chapter; but the story must go on
and we remember them today.

The time is right to look back over the day, the week, the year,
to figure out where we have come from,
and where we are going to.

We must remember the past, so that we can create the future,
a future that is full of hope, safety, peace, prosperity, harmony and freedom.
Today is a day to remember the cost of freedom,
and the cost of protecting all the freedoms that we enjoy.

We remember the men and women who put their lives
on the line to give us those freedoms,
and who paid the ultimate cost.
We can honour their memories best
by treating our fellow human beings well,
by upholding Humanist values such as respect,
tolerance, equality and compassion.

In spite of the differences between people,
we are basically all the same and
we should remember to treat each other well.

The poet Maya Angelou spoke wisely about this:

In minor ways we differ,
in major we’re the same.
I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

Jillian Brennan, CEO HAI