There are several excellent centenary events planned for Easter weekend in Dublin to mark the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Here at The Irish Store, we have put together this guide to spending Easter 2016 in Dublin, Ireland and what you should know about the 1916 Easter Rising.
O’Connell / Sackville Street Dublin 1916
Easter Rising 1916 – A Short Explanation
The Irish Times, a National broadsheet newspaper, has put together a superb, concise guide to what occurred in the lead up to and during that momentous occasion 100 years ago.
Easter 1916 was a moment in time which transformed the country of Ireland and caused damage to the city of Dublin which can still be seen today.
The Rising began on a weak foot for the rebels with the seizure of a German ship destined for Irish shores carrying 20,000 guns. Sir Roger Casement was later hanged for treason due to his role in this affair.
The Rising itself lasted 7 days, spanning from Easter Monday on April 24th to Sunday, April 30th 1916. It was a very bloody week, 1,350 people were killed or wounded in these 7 days. Following the surrender of the rebels, a total of 3,430 men and 79 women are arrested by the British.
The executions began shortly after on the 3rd of May. The following 9 days saw 15 of the Rising’s rebel leaders executed at Kilmainham Gaol.
We urge you to read the synopsis put together by The Irish Times above which gives a concise and accurate representation of this period.
Easter 1916 Centenary Guide for Dublin
The various events begin on Saturday 26th March and continue until Tuesday 29th March. You can find the full list of ceremonies and events here, on the official 1916 centenary page.
We have selected the 3 which we feel will be the most memorable for our readers:
The GPO, on Dublin’s O’ Connell Street.
1. Easter Sunday Commemoration Ceremony & Parade at the GPO
Starts at 10 pm on O’Connell Street outside the GPO. The Irish President, Michael D. Higgins, shall be present and will lay a wreath on behalf of the country at the site which is synonymous with the Easter Rising. The parade will then begin on the south side of the city at St. Stephen’s Green and will be led by the Defence Forces. You can find the parade route and more details on a map here. The parade will finish on Bolton Street at roughly 3 pm. This is the main event across the weekend and one that should not be missed.
2. Imagining Home Performance at the National Concert Hall
Running from the 28th of March to the 3rd of April, this promises to be a worthwhile event to attend to celebrate Irish culture through a variety of performances. The National Concert Hall is a beautiful building dating back to 1865. It is ideally located close to the Iveagh Gardens which are a wonderful place to spend some time relaxing and taking in your surroundings.
3. Easter Monday Wreath Laying
This will take place at 6 different locations which were iconic sites in the 1916 Easter Rising across Dublin. The laying itself will occur at 1.15 pm on Easter Monday, the 28th of March. Wreaths will be laid at these 6 locations: Boland’s Mill; Jacobs Factory (now the National Archives); Dublin Castle/City Hall; The Four Courts; Royal College of Surgeons; Moore Street and St. James’ Hospital.
The time of 1:15 pm is due to the fact that this is when the first shots of the Rising were fired 100 years ago. We suggest reading up on the location you choose to attend in advance and the role it had in the Rising itself to allow you to fully appreciate the moment and reflect on what was occurring in those exact places a century ago.
If you are unable to be in Dublin this Easter weekend then we can suggest following the coverage on RTÉ where it will dominate radio and television schedules for the weekend. If you enjoyed this piece you should subscribe now right here on our blog homepage.
1916 Commemorative Belleek Mug – Was: $39.95, Now: $24.95
