National 1916 Centenary Events

Although most of the 1916 centenary events are focused around Dublin City, there are a number of national events taking place too over the Easter weekend and throughout 2016 in an effort to commemorate the Rising. So whether you hail from Con Colbert’s home county of Limerick or you’re a Cork native like Thomas Kent, there will be a number of commemorative events that you can attend outside of the capital.

The flagship event taking place in Galway City over centenary year is the ‘Remembering Eamonn Ceannt Festival’ which runs in the summer from Monday 13^th until Sunday 19^th June. On Easter Monday though, there will be a state ceremony in the city, opened by a lone piper.

From St Patrick’s Day, the new Galway City Museum at the Spanish Arch will have a bilingual exhibition focusing on the Rising and beyond. The exhibition entitled ‘Revolution in Galway 1913-1923’ will open every day over the Easter weekend from 10am until 5pm. Then on Sunday 24^th April, the city will pay tribute to Constable Patrick Whelan – the only fatality of the Rising in Co Galway. A commemorative stone will be unveiled at Carnmore and Bohermore Cemetery, jointly led by the Cathaoirleach of the City and the County Mayor.

Two of the 16 leaders executed after the 1916 Easter Rising hailed from County Limerick – Con Colbert and Edward Daly and to commemorate that, a number of exhibitions and events are taking place across the city and county over the course of 2016. On Easter Sunday 1916, around 300 volunteers made their way to Glenquin Castle carrying arms and rations and a re-enactment of that march will take place on Sunday 24^th April. People are encouraged to join the march along the way and at the castle, a plaque marking the centenary will be unveiled. In May, the University of Limerick will hold a special concert to mark the centenary of the executions of the 1916 leaders.

Cork City and County’s 1916 plans include over 300 events in 70 different locations over the course of the year. Commemorative events will take place in many towns and villages across the county including Millstreet, Fermoy, Macroom, Kinsale and Skibbereen. In Castlelyons, the home town of rebel leader Thomas Kent, a commemorative monument will be unveiled on Sunday 15^th May to remember the centenary and Kent’s execution. In the city though, some of the highlights will include the Easter Monday State Ceremony Event on Grand Parade. At 10:30am, a parade will travel from the N22 Carrigrohane Rd at Leemount through Victoria Cross, the Western Rd, Dyke Parade, Sheares St and Washington St before finishing on the Grand Parade at approx. 11:30pm. A synchronised wreath-laying ceremony will take place after that at 1:15pm, followed by a public musical event until approx. 2:30pm. Some roads in the city will be closed because of those events so double check our event guide before travelling to the city.

As County Waterford was the birthplace of Thomas Francis Meagher, the historical origins of the Tricolour will be commemorated at various events in the county throughout 2016. Ceremonies will take place at The Mall in the city and also in Dungarvan on Sunday 24^th April at 3pm where the flag will be raised and those involved in Easter 1916 will be remembered. Elsewhere in the city, Waterford Central Library will have the Waterford Standard and Waterford News from 1916 on display throughout the year.