An event took place yesterday evening at the National Museum of Ireland in Collins Barracks, to launch the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, the national and international initiative to mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising.
The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD was joined by An Tanaiste, Joan Burton TD, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD and the Minister of State Aodhan O Riordain TD all attended the event.
Ireland 2016, led by Minister Humphreys will be a year-long programme of activity to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and to look towards Ireland's future. The programme includes seven strands - State Ceremonial, Historical Reflection, An Teanga Bheo/The Living Language, Youth and Imagination, Cultural Expression, Community Participation, Global and Diaspora.
Highlights of the event will include a major exhibition of 1916 archival material at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, 'Proclamation Day', which will be held in all schools on March 15th 2016, the National Flag and a copy of the Proclamation will be delivered to every school in the country, a series of State commemorative events, including a parade from Dublin Castle to Parnell Square on Easter Sunday 2016 and a special State Reception for relatives, 7 new public projects at the GPO, Kilmainham Gaol, Pearse’s Cottage, the Military Archives and other sites, a multi-location public event, to be broadcast on television on Easter Monday 2016, telling the story of Ireland, through music, dance, drama and song, a series of conferences on 1916 through our universities, Cultural events around the globe, to be co-ordinated through our embassies and Culture Ireland, including Irish cultural festivals in Washington and London.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD said, "There are some moments in history when a seed is sown and the old order changes forever. Easter 1916 was a moment when Irish nationalism joined forces with a revolutionary cultural and language movement to forge an irresistible campaign towards self-determination.
It is important that the Irish people have the opportunity to come together to celebrate and have pride in Ireland's independence, and to honour those who gave their lives so that the dream of self-determination could become a reality.
Ireland 2016, as a year of reflection and engagement for everyone on this island, goes far beyond the formal marking of a key historical moment. It is a once-in-a-century invitation to people of all ages, at home and overseas, to shape and take part in a diverse range of historical, cultural and artistic activities, all designed to nurture reflection, commemoration, celebration and debate."
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