The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Tuesday) hosted a gathering in Carrickmacross Workhouse of county co-ordinators, arts and heritage officers, librarians and archivists from the Local Authority network, who all played an essential role in the planning of 3,000 events as part of this year’s Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.
The meeting is an opportunity for the creators of the local authority centenary programmes to reflect on their achievements and share ideas on what they would like to see as the legacy of 2016.
Speaking today Minister Humphreys said:
“The success of the Ireland 2016 programme would not have been possible without the huge commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm of the dedicated officers of the Local Authority network. The engagement of the entire nation, in particular at local level, has undoubtedly been one of the outstanding achievements of the year.
“When we set out the national programme for the year we said that we would remember, reflect and re-imagine. As we move into the latter part of the year, our focus has turned to the re-imagine component. Today I am meeting with those who were instrumental in planning and hosting the 3,000 local events taking place across the country this year, to hear their thoughts on the achievements of the year and to begin to help to shape the legacy of 2016.
“The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is still very much in train, with numerous events still planned for right across the country. We are now in the final stages of the year, and I want to consider how, in tandem with the recent publication of the first ever national cultural policy
Culture 2025, we can build on the huge level of artistic and cultural engagement which we have experienced this year.”
The 31 County Plans for Ireland 2016 were the result of one of the largest consultation processes in the history of the State. Every county across the country played a vital role in marking the centenary of the Rising. From arts and cultural events to youth theatre, historical tours and film festivals, communities embraced the opportunity to reflect on their own history and to imagine the future of their communities, inspired by the ideals of the Proclamation.
Upcoming highlights of the Ireland 2016 Local Authority Programmes include:
- Perceptions 2016: The Art of Citizenship exhibition, 9th September – 29th October, Crawford Gallery, Cork
- The Easter Rising in Contemporary Art exhibition, 1st September – 31st December, Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch
- Fingal Memorabilia Day, 26th September, Grand Hotel Malahide and Fingal County Council Offices, Blanchardstown
- Children and Childhood in the Revolutionary Period, Conference, 16th – 17th September, NUI Galway
- Educational Philosophy of Patrick Pearse, bilingual conference, 24th September, The Pearse Museum, Dublin
- Paths to Freedom, Talks and Presentations on 1916, 1st October, County Library, Ballinamore, Leitrim
- The Promise and Challenge of National Sovereignty National Ireland 2016 Conference, 10th -12th October, NUI Galway
- Clare 1916 Centenary Lecture Series, 1st – 31st November, various venues,
Full details of the Ireland 2016 Local Authority Programmes can be found at www.ireland.ie/events/download-your-full-county-plan
Notes to Editors:
The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, led by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys, T.D., is 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. Full details of the Ireland 2016 programme is available at www.ireland.ie @ireland #ireland2016