1916 commemorations will be officially kick started in Donegal today, with the launch of the county’s Programme of Events by Cathaoirleach Cllr. Ciaran Brogan at the County House in Lifford.
The “Donegal 2016” programme contains over 90 events, which the organisers say will recall and explore the Rising itself, reflect on the achievements of the last 100 years, and look towards our future, both locally and nationally.
At the centre of today’s event will be the unveiling of “Donegal in 1916: From the Edge”, an education and history pack which will give people a flavour of what life in Donegal was like in 1916.
There are over 90 events planned for Donegal, including a conference next month on how key events in history are explored.
March will see the opening of the “County Donegal in 1916: Our Story” exhibition at the Donegal County Museum, while in July, a major symposium on the Irish language will be organised by Oideas Gael. This is part of a wider examination of Irish language and culture in the context of the Rising.
July will also see the premiere of a specially commissioned video artwork by Willie Doherty, examining the legacy of Easter 1916.
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Council statement in full –
This programme is part of the Ireland 2016 programme and contains events and initiatives across all seven strands of the national programme. The Donegal programme has been developed following extensive community consultation.
To coincide with the launch of the Donegal 2016 commemorations, Donegal County Council has produced a history and heritage education pack – Donegal in 1916: From the Edge. This pack, which was funded by The Heritage Council, consists of a 64 page booklet and 19 facsimiles in a designed folder. The pack, which is aimed at upper primary/secondary school students, teachers and a general audience, will give people a flavour of what life in Donegal was like in 1916 and will be unveiled at Monday’s launch.
With over 90 events planned for Donegal, and more likely to be included in the coming months, Donegal is set for an exciting year of commemorations, where everyone of all ages, both in Donegal and overseas, will have an opportunity to join in.
Some of the highlights for Donegal include:
- Remembering 1916: Ethical & Global Perspectives Conference (February) which is based on a book by Dr. Johnston McMasters and will include a series of workshops running up to the conference where the concept of how we remember key events in our history with be explored.
- The exhibition “County Donegal in 1916: Our Story” will open in March at Donegal County Museum to mark events which took place in 1916 from a Donegal perspective. The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of events including lectures and schools activities.
- 1916 Recreation Clonmany 1916 will celebrate 100 years of parish life by recreating the atmosphere of a bustling rural market village from 1916.
- Foras Cultúir Uladh will host an event to commemorate the leaders of the 1916 Rising’s outlook on linguistic and cultural affairs. A symposium will be organised by Oideas Gael on 5th July 2016 in Foras Cultúir Uladh with a panel of speakers to talk on the subject “The Irish Language belongs to everyone”.
Of particular note is the Willie Doherty video commission which was selected by an international jury under the Arts Council’s open call to the Irish imagination. This is one of only nine projects to receive funding under this call, for which over 250 applications were received.
Internationally renowned artist Willie Doherty will make a new video artwork examining the legacy of the 1916 Easter Rising and will build on his interest in the relationship between landscape and memory and will be shot in sites of contested history in Donegal and Dublin. The video will premier in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny in July 2016.
