Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme - Participation Invited From Local Groups, Organisations & Individuals
Play Your Role In Making History!
Kilkenny County Council Invites Participation From Local Groups, Organisations And Individuals To Be Part Of The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme
Kilkenny County Council will host an open meeting on 28th April 2015 from 8pm to 9pm in City Hall, High Street, Kilkenny for anyone interested in participating in the development and delivery of Kilkenny’s local programme, as part of Ireland 2016.
Ireland 2016 is a year-long programme of activity, in which everyone is invited to participate, to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements as a democratic state over the last 100 years and to look towards Ireland’s future.
The national programme, which was announced by the government on 31 March, includes seven strands; State Ceremonial; Historical Reflection; An Teanga Bheo/The Living Language; Youth and Imagination; Cultural Expression; Community Participation; Global and Diaspora.
The Community Participation strand is being led by local authorities across the country and Kilkenny County Council has appointed Brian Tyrrell who will be responsible for coordinating the local programme.
Whether you are a member of a local historical society, sports club, amateur drama club or community group, or even if this is something that is purely a personal interest, this is an opportunity to share ideas, pool resources and be part of the creation of a unique and distinctive local programme to mark Ireland 2016.
Speaking at the announcement of the local meeting, John Mulholland, A/Chief Executive said: “ 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. There is a wealth of imagination, energy and vision available to us in Kilkenny and I want to encourage everyone to get involved in their own way so we can make Ireland 2016 a truly national event .”
Following a short presentation on the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, participants will be invited to partake in a facilitated session to share ideas, projects and initiatives of local interest. Interested participants are kindly requested to register their interest to attend by emailing Ireland2016@kilkennycoco.ie before 24th April, 2015.
Details of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme are available at www.ireland.ie. Follow Ireland 2016 on Facebook and Twitter: #ireland2016 #eire2016
For further information on the Kilkenny Ireland 2016 Programme, contact:
Brian Tyrrell, brian.tyrrell@kilkennycoco.ie; 056 7794531
Notes to editors:
The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme was launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Tuesday 31st March 2015 at Collins Barracks, Dublin. A national initiative, based within the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland 2016 is the centre-piece of the Decade of Centenaries and Ireland.
The Programme is an invitation to all of the people on the island of Ireland, to families and people of Irish ancestry living abroad, who share our cultural identity and heritage, and all of Ireland’s friends, to participate in an intensive year of remembrance of the past, of reflection on our achievements and of re-imagining our Republic for future generations.
The Programme of events and initiatives comprisesSeven Strands :
1. State Ceremonial: Formal commemorative events include a parade from Dublin Castle, down O’Connell Street to Parnell Square on Easter Sunday 2016; a special State Reception for 1916 Relatives; an event to highlight the significant role of women in 1916; synchronised wreath laying ceremonies on Easter Monday marking the time when the first shots were fired; an event at Liberty Hall to commemorate James Connolly. Official openings will also take place at the seven flagship commemorative projects: the GPO Interpretative Centre, Richmond Barracks, Teach an Phiarsaigh, the Tenement Museum, Kilmainham Gaol and Courthouse, the National Concert Hall and the Military Service Pensions Archive.
2. Historical Reflection: A range of history-based activities and initiatives will include a series of conferences on various elements of 1916 at our universities; the National Library of Ireland will run a major digitisation project making over 20,000 items linked to the Rising available online; the Library will also hold community collection days for privately held 1916 memorabilia; the National Archives is publishing secret files compiled by the Dublin Metropolitan Police during 1916; a commemorative avenue of trees will be planted in the Phoenix Park; An Post will issue 16 commemorative stamps which, when scanned using a Smartphone app, will link to interactive material on the Rising; the Central Bank will issue commemorative coins.
3. An Teanga Bheo - The Living Language: The central place of the Irish language in the ideals of the revolutionary generation will be reflected in a diverse programme of events and activities in Irish, including a digitisation programme, lectures, debates, seminars, online learning resources and arts events.
4. Youth and Imagination: A detailed education programme, to extend from primary to university level, will place children and young people at the centre of Ireland 2016. It includes ‘Proclamation for a New Generation’ which will encourage students to examine the Proclamation and to write their own version to reflect their values; an inter-generational ancestry project; ‘Proclamation Day’ will take place in all educational settings in March 2016; a teaching resource will be developed on the National Flag, and a flag will be delivered to every school in the country by the Defence Forces; a new Leaving Certificate subject – ‘Politics and Society’ – will be rolled out on a trial basis; children aged 8-17 will be consulted on the theme of ‘Imagining our Future’, which will form the basis of a Children’s Day event, which will also commemorate the children killed during the Rising.
5. Cultural Expression: The Arts Council and our National Cultural Institutions have developed an extensive programme of arts and culture events. The Arts Council, for example, has issued an open call for large scale public arts projects; it will also stage a large scale choral event, involving a high number of choirs from across the country and there will be a national touring theatre programme; the National Concert Hall will stage a series of seven concerts over Easter Week 2016, arranged around the key themes of the Proclamation and its signatories; the Abbey Theatre will stage new productions of national and international classics and has also commissioned a series of new plays from young Irish playwrights.
6. Community Participation: Local Authorities are working with Ireland 2016 to develop commemorative events and activities in every county across the country and to encourage widespread citizen engagement; the GAA is getting involved through its clubs network; the Heritage Council is facilitating local events and regional museums are planning 1916 themed exhibitions.
7. Global and Diaspora: Ireland 2016is inviting the global Irish family from all over the world to join us in remembering, reflecting and re-imagining. Our diplomatic missions are working with Culture Ireland to develop significant events in the US, the UK, Australia, Argentina, France and many other countries. A three week Irish culture festival will be held in Washington; the Irish Embassy in London will stage a flagship event in one of London’s main cultural venues and a series of academic conferences examining the impact of the Rising are planned in Australia.
ENDS
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