The Irish government has launched Ireland 2016, an ambitious and wide-ranging national commemorative initiative marking 1916. We look at some of the highlights of this interpretation of Irish modern history, which aims to bring friends and families from overseas together.

The Easter Rising was an armed insurrection that took place over six days, lasting from Easter Monday 24th April to Saturday 29th April in 1916. The aim of those behind it was to establish an Irish Republic and to end British rule in Ireland. This was the most significant event of this type in Ireland since the 1798 Rebellion.  

James Connolly and Padraig Pearse led the Irish Volunteers who took over the General Post Office (GPO) on O’Connell Street in the center of Dublin. In addition to this occupation, members of the Irish Volunteers, Irish Citizen Army and Cumann na mBan occupied important locations around the city. The tricolor flag of Ireland was raised over the GPO and Padraig Pearse read the proclamation and declared Ireland as a Republic.  

Following days of fighting, the leaders of the Easter Rising surrendered, were court martialed and eventually executed at Kilmainham Jail. Many volunteers were sent to interment camps in England and Wales.  

Here are some of the events and projects that are taking place in 2016 to commemorate 1916:

New Online Resources
The National Library of Ireland is collating and digitizing over 20,000 items related to 1916 and the seven signatories of the Proclamation. The National Archives are publishing the 1916 court martial files online, in addition to the Dublin City Metropolitan police surveillance files.

Concerts and Exhibitions
There will be seven concerts at the National Concert Hall in Dublin and a major exhibition is being planned by the National Gallery. An outdoor entertainment festival, called Rave-loid 2016 is being organized by Glor na nGael. The Gardai are organizing an exhibition to remember the men of the Easter Rising from the Metropolitan Police that were killed.

International Documentary
A 3-part TV documentary on the Rising, in addition to a 70 minute feature film, is being funded to the tune of almost €3 million by the University of Notre Dame, to commemorate 1916.

3 Week Commemoration in Washington
The famous John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC is doing a special 1916 commemoration with a three week festival of Irish arts. This will take place from May 16th to June 5th, 2016.

Other International Highlights
2016 also marks the bicentenary of Argentine independence and Argentina is also planning an event commemorating the links between both countries, in addition to an international conference in Buenos Aires. The Irish Embassy in London is planning a 2016 event and there will be events in Australia, Brazil and Canada.

Macalla 1916 – New Music
A new suite of music will be premiered at a State reception for 1916 relatives. The suite – Macalla 1916 – is being composed by Monaghan composer Michael Rooney, who previously composed The Famine Suite and The Millennium Suite. Following the debut at Dublin Castle, the suite, which is part of the Comhaltas Centenary Programme, will have a nationwide concert tour across Ireland over Easter 1916 and October 1916 and will tour in North America in late 1916.

2016 will be a cultural treasure trove in Ireland and across the world with events being planned across all genres and all broadcast media.