merrion street

Located in the beautiful surroundings of St Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham, this is a special event to celebrate the role and importance of the Irish language and to reflect on the life of Patrick Pearse and his contribution to Irish arts and culture.

The ceremony, which forms part of An Teanga Bheo strand of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, will begin with a keynote address by guest of honour, President Michael D. Higgins. This will be followed by an excerpt from Aeridheacht : Taking the Air by 35 young performers, aged between 13 and 24, from Tallaght Community Arts Group, who will recreate an open day at St Enda’s School in 1914.

An Teanga Bheo, one of the seven Ireland 2016 programme strands, celebrates the role and importance of the Irish language through a diverse programme of events. The revival of the Irish language was a core ambition of what came to be known as the ‘Revolutionary Generation’. The vision of an independent Ireland with its own spoken and written language as the foundation stone of its unique culture informed much of the thinking of the 1916 leaders.

Home to the former St Enda’s School and currently the Pearse Museum, St Enda’s Park has been specially chosen as the location for the state ceremony, which will take place in the Museum grounds. Pearse, a leader of the 1916 rising, had a strong interest in education which originated from his involvement in the Gaelic league and Irish language movement.

Sean Kyne, TD, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources said: “It is vital for us, in this our Centenary year, to remember the unique and important place of the Irish language in the journey of our country over the past 100 years. It is particularly fitting that this ceremony to celebrate our national language takes place here in the grounds of the Pearse Museum, where Patrick Pearse lived and ran his innovative Irish-speaking school, Scoil Éanna, between 1910 and 1916. It is essential that the energy and vitality which has been the hallmark of the An Teanga Bheo programme is continued and enriched into the future.”

Minister Seán Canney, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief added: “I am delighted that my Office, the Office of Public Works, has marked the Centenary year with a new permanent exhibition on the life of Patrick Pearse here in the Pearse Museum. The exhibition explores the question ‘Who is Pearse’ with an intriguing glimpse into the distinct phases of Pearse’s life using artefacts, film footage and poignantly, the cups and saucers used by Patrick and his brother William at their final family meal in St. Enda’s. I would also encourage all to visit the Wayfarer Sculpture in the walled garden, which incorporates the text of Pearse’s last poem. It is a particularly fitting memorial as his father James and brother William were stone carvers”.

ENDS

Running Order:

13:30 Arrival of invited guests including members of the Pearse Family
13:55 Arrival of President Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins
14:00 Ceremony begins with performance by Fearghas MacLochlainn (Grand Nephew of Patrick Pearse)
14:09 Keynote address by President Michael D. Higgins
14:30 President Higgins and Sabina Higgins are given short tour of new permanent Pearse Exhibition by curator Brian Crowley
14:55 Presidential party view sculpture in the walled garden
15:00 Tallaght Community Arts perform extract from Aeridheacht – Taking the Air in the Museum grounds
15:25 Ceremony concludes