National museums yearlong 1916 commemorations launched

The National Museum of Ireland (NMI) has announced details of its year-long public programme to commemorate the Easter Rising 1916 and the centenary of the First World War. A variety of events – exhibitions, performances, educational and online resources and public programmes – will be hosted at its various sites. The cornerstone of its programme will be a major exhibition, 1916: Easter Week Remembered, at its Decorative Arts & History branch, Collins Barracks, Dublin opening in March 2016 which will examine the events of Easter Week in detail. Other events are planned to take place at its Archaeology branch in Kildare St, Dublin and at the Museum of Country Life, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

The details of the 1916 programme are as follows:

‘1916: Easter Week Remembered’

The year 2016 presents a unique opportunity for the National Museum of Ireland to commemorate the events of 1916 and their historical context with a new exhibition dedicated to the events of Easter Week, 1916. Our Easter Week collection (of some 15,000 artefacts) includes many iconic, unique and emotive objects and images, reflecting the events and evoking the varied personalities involved in the Easter Rising. It contains a number of key documents and manuscripts relating to the Rising, such as the Proclamation of the Republic, Pearse’s bulletins issued from the GPO and his surrender order. It also includes the Irish Republic flag that flew over the GPO in 1916. The collection includes guns, uniforms, manuscripts, prison diaries and personal memorabilia. Some of the themes that will be addressed in the exhibition include personal stories of civilians as well as those of the leaders, the involvement of National Museum staff and previous commemorations of the Rising. Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks. - From March 2016

1916 Online Learning Resource

This will be based on key objects from the 1916 exhibition and will be available on the Museum’s website to reach a global audience. Linking with Primary and Post Primary curricula, the resource will include high quality images, object information, pre- and post-visit activities, audio and video content.

Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks - Available from December 2015

‘Who do we think we are?’ Exploring Irish Identities

Collective and individual identities are explored through a collaborative project with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and the Museum. Craftspeople and designers working with culturally-diverse communities will create an exhibition providing alternative perspectives on the significance of 1916. A programme of events including a major conference in November 2016 will augment the project.

Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks. - November 2016

Decade of Centenaries – Recent Archaeological Discoveries

In September 2016 a series of lunchtime talks will be held which will examine new and exciting archaeological research relating to the conflicts in which Irishmen and women fought during the period 1913 to 1923 in Ireland and in Europe. The talks will explore discoveries from excavations and the results of surveys of landscapes and buildings in urban and rural areas of conflict in Ireland and France.

Archaeology, Kildare St. - September 2016

‘Beyond Sackville Street and the Somme – the impact of rebellion and war in rural Ireland’

This multi-dimensional programme will look at how the lives of people throughout Ireland (outside of Dublin and the few other centres of rebellion) were affected by the Rising and its aftermath. It will also examine some of the ways in which the First World War affected rural Ireland.

Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. September – December 2016

Raghnall Ó Floinn, Director of The National Museum of Ireland stated “Work is underway on the development of the 2016 programme. In the meantime, building on the success of our exhibition Recovered Voices – Stories of the Irish at War 1914-1915 and the site specific theatrical performance Pals – the Irish at Gallipoli, we will host a number of initiatives this year at our Decorative Arts & History branch at Collins Barracks, Dublin dealing with the First World War and with the events leading to the 1916 Rising.”

These will include:

The Gallipoli Centenary Education Project.

The Museum will showcase the results of Post-Primary students’ work who researched stories of Irish soldiers who fought in Gallipoli as members of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and Royal Munster Fusiliers. This is a collaborative project with Kerry County Museum, supported by the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association.

Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks. - May 2015

‘Other Voices /Voices of the Past’

A partnership project with Poetry Ireland and George Higgs, composer and Robbie Blake, choral theatre director, inspired by the themes of the Recovered Voices – Stories of the Irish at War 1914-1915 and the planned 1916: Easter Week Remembered exhibitions. Performances, readings and choral workshops will focus on the forgotten and unheard histories and stories expressed through poetry, writing, storytelling and music.

Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks. - October 2015