Drogheda to remember Pearse's press agent, Joe Stanley

“Drogheda’s new 1916 Garden will be launched on Sunday 24th April at 12.30pm and everyone is invited to attend,” Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Paul Bell says.

Local people have watched over the last month as the new garden, located at The Butter Gate, takes shape. The garden features a flagpole and Tricolour, a life sized replica of the Proclamation and seven trees representing the seven signatories.

The garden has been developed, on behalf of the people of Drogheda, by the Drogheda Tidy Towns Committee. Chairman, Cllr Kevin Callan, explained: “When Louth County Council asked Drogheda Tidy Towns to take on this project we jumped at the chance. We wanted to create a beautiful garden that would belong to the people of the town and appropriately recognise the importance of our heritage.”

The Garden is named after Drogheda native, Captain Joe Stanley, a former Alderman of Drogheda Corporation. He served as Press Agent to Pádraig Pearse during Easter Week at the GPO. He printed the first documents of the newly proclaimed Republic: the iconic Irish War News along with the Proclamation to the Citizens of Dublin and The Irish War Bulletin 3. These were the only documents issued by the leaders from the GPO during Easter Week.

“As first citizen of Drogheda, it is my very great privilege to officially launch the Joseph Stanley 1916 Garden on behalf of the people of the town. I do hope that lots of people will come along to join in the celebration.” concluded Mayor Bell.

This launch event, lasting about 30 minutes, is open to the public and all are warmly welcomed to attend.

Also on Sunday, the Old Drogheda Society and Drogheda Museum Millmount will commemorate the events of 1916, starting at 5pm with the official opening of a 1916 Exhibition. This will be followed from 6pm- 9pm by 'Artists Arising', an artistic commemoration of 24th April 1916 and a celebration of the 24th April 2016.

This will be held at various locations within the Millmount complex including The Governor’s House, The Tower and The Courtyard, featuring music, art and poetry by a large group of Drogheda visual artists , poets, composers and musicians and featuring The Drogheda Orchestral Collective. Participants will include members of Nexus, Indigo and Amergin visual arts groups, poets Susan Connolly, Emer Davis, Paddy Dillon, Marie McSweeney, Maureen Perkins, Leanne Quinn ,Terry McHugh; and musicians Breifne Holohan, Trudy Maguire, Dan Reid, Joanne Kieran, Brid Dunne, Daire O Héiligh, Gerry Cullen, Michael Holohan, Darren Rooney, Baz and Tadhg Leahy. Admission is free and all are welcome.