Carlow Ireland 2016” Commemorations, An Overview

“Ireland 2016” was a year-long national programme to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements as a democratic state over the last 100 years and to look towards Ireland’s future. The national programme, included seven strands: State Ceremonial; Historical Reflection; An Teanga Bheo/The Living Language; Youth and Imagination; Cultural Expression; Community Participation; Global and Diaspora. The Community Participation strand was led by all local authorities across the country. Ireland 2016, was a year of engagement for everyone on this island. It was a once-in-a-century invitation to people of all ages, at home and overseas, to shape and take part in a diverse range of historical, cultural and artistic activities, to nurture commemorate, celebrate and debate. This pivotal period in the history of Ireland has had an enormous impact on the development of our nation and our national identity, and it is fitting that we sought to commemorate the people and events in a thoughtful, respectful and consultative manner. The ‘Carlow Ireland 2016 Programme’ saw the county host over sixty events to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the 1916 Rising. All the commemorations individually and collectively remembered key moments in the foundation of this State.

The commemoration of the 1916 Rising in County Carlow was led by the “Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee”, chaired by Cllr. Fintan Phelan, established by Carlow County Council in January 2015 and held it last meeting in January 2018. In drafting the 2016 Program the Committee, during February and March 2015, sought submissions from the public with suitable ideas and suggestions under the following headings (a) Remembering (the Rising), (b) Reflecting (on the last 100 years) (c) Re - imagining (looking to the future). In June, based on this, the Committee hosted a public information session for the county in the Lord Bagenal Hotel, Leighlinbridge. The Committee outlined its findings and projects that it would undertake through Carlow County Council and its institutions, namely the Carlow Arts Office, Carlow Library Service and Carlow County Museum. That night the Committee launched the “Carlow 2016 Grants Scheme” for Community Led Projects. A total of € 25,000 was made available under this scheme, which over the course of the year funded twenty-nine groups and organisations from around the county to hold events. These community participation events allowed for real citizen engagement with “Ireland 2016”.

In October 2015, all county programmes were launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD; An Tánaiste Joan Burton TD; Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Alan Kelly TD, Minister of Environment, Community & Local Government at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. The county Carlow launch was held on Friday 29th, January 2016 in Carlow Central Library. The programme was launched by Ann Phelan, TD, Minister for State for Rural Economic Development and Social Enterprise. Commandant Stephen MacEoin, speaking on behalf of Ireland 2016, said that “over two thousand events will take place nationally and that the large crowd attending the Carlow launch is testament to the huge interest of people in this period and in the foundation of our country”.

Invited to speak at the launch, Dr Conor Kostick, biographer of Micheál O’Hanrahan, said that Carlow can be rightly proud of their connection to O’Hanrahan and that he was the second most recorded name in the Dublin police records of the time. His role prior to the Rising as Quartermaster was important and should not be under-estimated.

Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of the ‘Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee, stated that ‘it is pleasing that so many communities and organisations around the county will undertake commemorations in their area. These will take the form of opening commemorative gardens, exhibitions, photographic displays, pieces of theatre and plays, unveiling of plaques and art commissions, parades, lectures, art exhibitions, re-enactments, sporting competitions and reading of the Proclamation. I would like, on behalf of the Committee, to thank them for their interest and foresight in developing projects to mark such an important year.’

Some of the many highlights of the year include: On Sunday April 3rd, 2016 the County Carlow 1916 Commemoration took place outside the Town Hall, Haymarket, Carlow Town. Cllr. Charlie Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Mayor John Cassin, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow and Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee invited the people of the county to come and remember all the Carlow citizens who participated in the 1916 Easter Rising. This commemorative event included the reading of the Proclamation in both Irish and English by secondary school students Tommy Mac Diarmada and Ella Hyland respectively; the laying of a wreath by Cllr. Charlie Murphy on behalf of the citizens of the county; the raising of the national flag by Lieutenant Tom Bell, 3rd Battalion, James Stephens Barrack’s, Kilkenny; the playing of a lament by Gerrie Dunne, Killeshin Pipe Band; a minutes silence followed by sounding the Last Post & Reveille by Christine Somers of the Kilkenny Brass & Reed Band; concluding with the playing of the national anthem by the Presentation Band. The members of the Carlow Organisation of National Ex-servicemen and the UN Veterans marched in formation.

To mark the one hundredth anniversary, Carlow County Council honoured eight Carlow citizens who are one hundred years of age or older. They were presented with a special 1916 – 2016 commemorative medal. The recipients were: Ms. Ethel Blair, Leighlinbridge; Mrs Anne Fitzgerald, Fenagh; Mr. Francis Kevin Garvey, Green Road; Fr. Tom Kennedy, Bagenalstown; Ms. Bernadette Kehoe, Craddockstown Nursing Home; Mrs. Annie Meaney, Old Leighlin; Mrs. May Morris, Hillview Nursing Home and Mrs. Mary 'Moll' Nolan, Bagenalstown.

The first to receive their 1916-2016 commemorative medal was Mary ‘Moll’ Nolan, known by friends and neighbours as ‘Queen of the Green’ from Fairgreen, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow who turned 101 this year. She is pictured here with Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee. Photo: Paul Curran, Carlow County Council.

Carlow College, Ireland’s oldest third level Catholic college, held a ‘Memorabilia Day’ where members of the public brought along any items they have relating to the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War period so they could be photographed and record the stories associated with them.

The members of Carlow County Council commissioned two new pieces of public art, one for each Municipal District. These lasting legacies of the Carlow Ireland 2016 commemorations were commissioned by the Council through its Public Art Working Group, and coordinated through the Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee. The project was managed through the Arts Office, in partnership with County Carlow Museum under the direction of Pat Delaney, Head of Finance, Information Systems and Culture of Carlow County Council.

The art commission for the Municipal District of Carlow is located in Carlow County Museum. This innovative and unique contemporary stained glass panel illustrates a Carlow narrative showing some key Carlow figures and the role they played in 1916. Cork City based artist Peadar Lamb, who won the commission, has magnificently crafted a large panel 2.5 meters wide by 1.5 meters high. This is an addition to the six 1930s stained glass windows already in the Museum thanks to the buildings original residents, the Presentation Sisters.

The panel respectfully marks and captures the narrative of some Carlow figures of 1916 as well as providing a legacy for future generations who will visit the County Museum. The panel is impactful on all visitors to the Museum and is now part of the Museum’s permanent collection. Peadar Lamb, as an artist, works primarily in the medium of stained glass for over twenty years. Using hand-made glass, he employs a variety of techniques which have changed little over the centuries. He has shown extensively in his native Ireland and internationally, and his work is in public and private collections in Europe, the Middle East, the USA and Japan.

At the unveiling of the 1916 Commemorative Stained-Glass Panel by artist Peadar Lamb in Carlow County Museum on Thursday July 21st 2016 were Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council; Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Mayor of the Municipality of Carlow and the Chairperson of the ‘Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee’; Gary Hughes, Chairperson of the Board of Carlow County Museum; Members of the Museum Board: Cllr Anne Ahern, Cllr Fergal Browne, Cllr. Walter Lacey, Martin Nevin and Noreen Whelan; Bernie O’Brien, Deputy Chief Executive; Pat Delaney Director of Services, artist Peadar Lamb, Catherine Marshall, art historian; Sinead Dowling and Aileen Nolan, Arts Officers and Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator. Photo: Paul Curran, Carlow County Council.

The commission depicts: Micheál O’Hanrahan, who grew up on Tullow Street, Carlow town, was executed for his role in 1916, and is representative of his family who were immersed in the republican tradition. Nurse Margaret Kehoe, from Leighlinbridge, lost her life on Easter Monday 1916 while tending to the wounded in the South Dublin Union. Father Albert Bibby OFM Cap., from Bagenalstown, ministered to many of the rebel prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol and was a link between them and their families. Thomas Traynor4, from Tullow, who fought in the 1916 Rising was executed in April 1921 during the War of Independence, is shown surrounded by his ten children.

The piece is rich in symbolism including an image of a large bullet and a bicycle. The bullet represents the power of the well-armed British Empire while the bicycle represents the ill-equipped Irish Revolutionaries, a David v Goliath situation. Peadar stated that “the content of this artwork is a microcosm of what was happening in the whole country during the period of 1916. As an artist, in the process of making this work I have to try to find what I am going to say and how to represent this Carlow narrative. I don't see historical dates I see things in pictures. I created a legacy piece that compositionally is not just about the past but also for the present and the future”.

At the unveiling of the panel in July 2016, Catherine Marshall, a leading figure in Art History in Ireland, summarised the importance of stained glass as an artform. She said “it is always really great to see a brand-new artwork as the public see it for the first time. Historically as an art form stained glass was the medium used for commemorations. It is most fitting and the visionary work of Carlow County Council to commission contemporary stained glass artist Peadar Lamb. What strikes me in this artwork is the careful traditional leaded techniques and methods Peadar has applied, all done by hand, like the great cathedral windows across Europe. Like the great stained glass artists like Harry Clark, Peadar Lamb is an exceptional artist and has produced a beautiful artwork for Carlow”.

The stained-glass panel was short listed in the Chambers Ireland “Excellence in Local Government Awards” in the “Commemorations Category”. A photograph of the panel is featured in the official Ireland 2016 publication “Centenary, Ireland Remembers 1916” edited by Ronan McGreevy.

The art commission for the Municipal District of Muinebheag is located at Beachers Hill on the Leighlinbridge Road in Bagenalstown. It is a Carlow granite memorial honouring Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., Regent Street, Bagenalstown and Nurse Margaret Kehoe, Orchard, Leighlinbridge for their pastoral and medical care of those who fought in 1916.

The guest speaker for its unveiling on Sunday 17th April was Dr. Maurice Manning, Chair of Ireland 2016 Expert Advisory Group and a native of Bagenalstown. He said that “after the Rising, Fr. Bibby became a national figure. He attended the needs of Micheal O’Hanrahan, a fellow Carlow man and was present at his execution. He witnessed the last hours of Edward Daly, Willie Pearse, Joseph Mary Plunkett and four days later the executions of Michael Mallin, Con Colbert, Sean Houston and Eamonn Ceannt”. He said that Fr. Bibby was a good man, a saintly man and a man whose life was based on three main pillars – his deep faith, his loyalty to the great Capuchin order and the vows he took on his ordination and, perhaps most of all, his great sense of service, especially to the poor.

Dr Manning speaking on Nurse Margaret Kehoe said that ‘like Fr. Bibby she spent her life working with the poor, the destitute and the mentally disturbed. She was a highly trained and compassionate nurse. She has been described as the forgotten first victim of the Easter Rising. Margaret Kehoe was 49 years old and was a native of Orchard near Leighlinbridge. Her family was an old and respected family in the area. Her father Dr. Patrick Kehoe was Coroner for county Carlow.’

Cllr. Denis Foley, Chairperson of the Municipal District of Bagenalstown, thanked Declan Nolan and staff of the Carlow Stone Centre, Ballon for crafting the lovely memorial in Carlow Granite and features a carving of Fr. Bibby and Nurse Kehoe based on illustrations by Adam Curran, Carlow town. The Carlow Stone Centre worked closely with Carlow County Council’s Arts Office and Carlow County Museum on the project. After the unveiling the memorial was Blessed by Fr. Christopher Twomey OFM Cap., Guardian of the Carlow Capuchin Community.

The unveiling was preceded by a parade led by the Carlow Pipe Band along with members of the Muinebheag Organisation of National Ex-servicemen (ONE) and the Carlow UN Veterans Association. At the memorial, the Proclamation was read in Irish by Hamish Beaton, Principal of St Brigid’s National School, Bagenalstown. Padraig Cahill County Carlow Civil Defence Officer and a native of Bagenalstown read the Proclamation in English. Cllr. Charlie Murphy laid a wreath in memory of Fr. Bibby and Nurse Kehoe. David Walsh a member of the Carlow Pipe Band played two laments as part of the ceremony. Corporal Fergal Foley from the Dept of Defence Head Quarters in the Curragh, a son of Cllr. Denis Foley raised the Irish flag while Christine Somers of the Kilkenny Brass & Reed Band sounded the Last Post & Reveille. The St Andrews Church Choir sang the National anthem assisted by the Carlow Pipe Band.

At the end of the ceremony Cllr. Charlie Murphy, presented three specially commissioned medals to Fr. Christopher Twomey, Guardian of the Capuchin Community in Carlow; to Denise Kehoe, to honour the link with Nurse Kehoe and to guest speaker Dr Maurice Manning.

In March, Nurse Kehoe’s relations, through the specially formed Margaret Kehoe (Leighlinbridge) Memorial Group, held a grave side service at her place of rest at St. Fintan’s Church, Ballinabranagh and unveiled a family memorial to her in the Garden of Remembrance in Leighlinbridge. Nurse Kehoe’s grandniece, Eleanor Cummins, through the Nurse Margaret Keogh Commemoration Group, wrote a play marking her role in 1916. Nationally on International Women’s Day in March, Ireland 2016 launched a short video about Nurse Kehoe juxtaposed with a modern day female doctor. You can view it by clicking here.

Nurse Kehoe’s grave at St. Fintan’s Church, Ballinabranagh

On Regent Street, the Bagenalstown Improvement Group unveiled a plaque to Fr. Bibby OFM Cap. on the house in which he was born.

As a result of the national focus on 1916 many communities begun to research potential connections in their area with more personal stories emerging. One such individual was Bridget (Brede) Connolly from Friarstown, County Carlow who would appear to be the only Carlow person present in the GPO in O’Connell Street during the Rising. She was a dispatch officer for Cumann na mBan. The “Grange 1916 Committee” unveiled a plaque at her grave in Grange. Another connection was James Connor, a prominent Carlovian and manager of the Clogrennane Lime Works, who was killed by rebels on Easter Monday on Stephen’s Green for refusing to give up his motor car for a barricade. Dr. Shay Kinsella presented a lecture on his life and unveiled a plaque on the wall of Clody cemetery to commemorate Connor as his grave is unmarked.

(L to R) Bridget (Brede) Connolly from Friarstown, County Carlow and Fr. Bibby OFM Cap.

The Carlow Federation of the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) produced a wonderful large wall hanging depicting Irelands Achievements from 1916 up to 2016. Various styles of stitching, quilting and embroidery from the twelve guilds of the Carlow Federation were involved in the making of this commemorative piece. The wall hanging is now on display in the County Museum.

(L to R) Plaque to James Connor, manager of the Clogrennane Lime Works and the Carlow Federation of the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) large wall hanging.

The Tullow 2016 Centenary Committee in April 2016, unveiled "The Flame of Liberty" as the community’s response to remembering Volunteer Thomas Traynor, born in 1882 at Cannon's Quarter, Tullow. The piece was lovingly crafted in metal by locally based company Burnside Autocyl in early 2016 by skilled designers, craftsmen and apprentices. The "Flame of Liberty" colour scheme is taken from the National Flag, octagonal in shape, seven dedicated to the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation and the eight dedicated to Volunteer Thomas Traynor. Together the eight sides form a strong but safe resting place for "The Flame of Liberty" which was escorted from Thomas Traynor Road through the town to the Thomas Traynor Memorial by members of the Traynor family, local community groups and marching bands.

The first week of April 2016 saw Dublin Street, once the premier trading hub in Carlow Town, return to the busy commercial life of 1916. Shop owners on the street recreated their shop windows and displays reflecting the time and their present-day shop staff wore period dress. A number of no longer trading businesses were recreated such as a printing works, a carpentry workshop and a cobbler. The street was lined with veteran cars, a horse and cart and a steam engine.

The Carlow Library Service held several events throughout their branches including writing and poetry competitions. Through their Carlow Nationalist archive, they produced a series of leaflets that looked at Carlow life in 1916 under the headings of business, sport, farming, church, anniversaries, local interest, medical and the Rising.

ASPIRO Choir, under the direction of Mary Amond O’Brien commissioned composer Liam Lawton to write a Requiem ‘Remembering the Child’ as a living remembrance of children who died in the 1916 Rising and in memory of all children who have lost their lives or childhood through violence, war and oppression. As a symbol of hope for a future of peace and prosperity in Ireland and throughout the world, this new commission forms the centre piece of a specially selected programme of songs that reflect Leonard Bernstein’s quote: “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully and more devotedly than ever before”. This November concert was hosted in Carlow Cathedral with special guest, Joe Duffy, RTE radio, in attendance as a narration from his book ‘Children of the Rising’ was read to the packed audience. The concert was also performed in Christ Church, Dublin on December 28th.

Carlow GAA recreated the two County Finals from 1916 played between Tinryland and St Patricks Tullow in football and Bagenalstown and Graiguecullen in hurling. The two matches saw players, some of who were direct descendants from the 1916 teams, dressed in the replica sports jerseys along with workman boots and caps. Both matches begun with the traditional throw in with all players lined up in the middle of the pitch. The Most Reverend Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, had the honour of throwing in the sliotar for the hurling game. These recreations made for great viewing for the crowd, many of whom also donned 1916 attire for the special occasion.

As part of Heritage Week 2016, the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society presented three mini-lectures. Ms. Róisín Bowling presented “Uniformity 16, celebrating Cumann na mBan and what they wore”; Mr. Paul Maguire, Curator of Carlow Military Museum, spoke about the uniforms and the arms of 1916 while Ms Imelda Byrne, presenter of television series ‘ICA Bootcamp’ discussed the food of 1916 in ‘The Way We Ate’.

The Recipients of the “Carlow 2016 Grants Scheme” for Community Led Projects were:
An Gairdín Beo; ASPIRO; Bagenalstown Improvement Group; Ballon Improvement Group; Carlow Federation Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA); Carlow GAA; Carlow Golf Club; Carlow Tourism; Carlow Youthreach; Clonegal/Kildavin Veteran Players Group; County Carlow Youth Theatre; Delany Archive, Carlow College; Delta Centre; Equal Chances Polish School; Fenagh Improvement Group; Fenagh Juvenile GAA Club; Grange 1916 Committee; Ms. Janice de Bróithe; Myshall/Drumphea Social History Group; The Margaret Kehoe (Leighlinbridge) Memorial Group; Nurse Margaret Keogh Commemoration Group; O'Hanrahan's GFC; S.M.A.R.T Ltd., St. Mullins; Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál; Dr Shay Kinsella; St Joseph’s NS; Tinryland Tidy Towns; Tullow 2016 Committee and the Workman's Club Carlow.

Right across the country a special emphasis was placed on involving schools and young people in the commemorations. Beginning in September 2015 members of the Irish Defence Forces visited all primary schools around Ireland and presented an Irish flag and a copy of the 1916 Proclamation. Secondary schools were invited to receive theirs at a special ceremony held in Croke Park, Dublin with President Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland in February 2016. All schools participated in “Proclamation Day” on March 15th, when the 1916 Proclamation was read and the Irish flag was raised. In advance of this day, schools were asked to understand the original Proclamation and take the opportunity to voice their concerns and hopes for the future in writing a new ‘Re-imagined Proclamation’. Carlow County Museum in association with the Carlow Arts Office invited primary schools across Carlow to submit their new Proclamations to be printed on an original printing press. The Museum teamed up with Jack and Paul Byrne, father and son, from Newark Printers, Clogrennane, who still have a working hand printing letter press which uses the same technique as used to print the original 1916 Proclamation.

The students were given the rare opportunity to help set up the letter press and assist with the printing of their new Proclamation. Three Proclamations were printed, one for the student, one for the school and the third is on display in the Museum. The participating schools in this Carlow Ireland 2016 initiative were Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Tullow; Bennekerry N.S.; Scoil Molaise, Old Leighlin; Our Lady Queen of Universe N.S., Bagenalstown; Kildavin N.S.; Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, Tullow and St Mary's N.S., Bagenalstown (see Carlow County Museum report for more information).

Adam Ó Murchú, Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc receiving his medal from Cllr. Charlie Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council and Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 committee with Príomhoide Aingeal.

Nationally, through the Department of Education and Skills several history competitions were organised. Carlow had winners at both primary and secondary level. Adam Ó Murchú, Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc, Carlow town was the winner in the primary school ‘The 1916 Rising’ category with his submission “The Coltwood Incident”. He recounted how his great grand uncle Paddy Ramsbottom fired the first shot in the 1916 Rising. In the post primary category “Ireland and the First World War”, James Osborne and Oisín Morrin, students at Knockbeg College, were the overall winners with their project “An Historical Analysis of the ‘Forgotten’ POWs of Templemore During the Great War (1914-1918). In recognising the success of all three they were presented with a specially commissioned Carlow Ireland 2016 medal by Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 committee and Cllr. Charlie Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council.

James Osborne and Oisín Morrin, Knockbeg College receiving their medals from Cllr. Fintan Phelan, Chairperson of the Carlow Ireland 2016 committee and Cllr. John Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council.

In March 2017, to mark the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Fenian rebellion in 1867 and the 1916 Rising, the Carlow County Museum temporary exhibition gallery was dedicated in honour of the O’Hanrahan Family/ Uí Annracháin for their contribution to Irish independence. They lived at 90 and 91 Tullow Street in the late 19th and early 20th century. The dedication and plaque unveiling was performed by Pearse O’Hanrahan, great grandnephew of Richard and Mary O’Hanrahan, and grandnephew of their children Harry, Micheál, Edward, Áine (Ciss), Máire and Eily. Richard was a member of the Fenian’s. Pearse was accompanied by his brother Harry and several other O’Hanrahan relations were present including Deirdre Lawlor a grand and great grandniece of the O’Hanrahan’s being honoured.

Speaking at the dedication Pearse O’Hanrahan said he was very pleased that the entire family was being honoured and he thanked Carlow County Council and the Museum Board for the gesture. (see Carlow County Museum report for more information).

Following on from this successful year across the country and county Carlow, ‘Creative Ireland’ has been established as the legacy programme of these commemorations. This programme will operate in all local authorities for the next five years. The coordination for Creative Ireland is being undertaken by the Arts Office.

The Carlow Ireland 2016 Committee:
Cllr Anne Ahern*, Cllr John Cassin, Cllr. Andrea Dalton, Cllr Jim Deane, Cllr Denis Foley, Cllr Andy Gladney, Cllr Tommy Kinsella, Cllr Arthur McDonald, Cllr Jennifer Murnane O'Connor**, Cllr Ken Murnane, Cllr Charlie Murphy, Cllr Brian O'Donoghue, Cllr William Paton, Cllr John Pender, Cllr Fintan Phelan, Chairperson and Cllr Willie Quinn.
* Resigned from Carlow County Council, September 2017 and replaced by Cllr. Andrea Dalton;
** Elected to the 25th Seanad in April 2016 and replaced by Cllr Ken Murnane.

The Carlow Ireland 2016 Implementation Group: Pat Delaney, Head of Finance, Information Systems and Culture; Eoin Lyng, Head of Information Systems; Josephine Coyne, County Librarian/ replaced by John Shortall, Acting County Librarian in February 2016; Sinead Dowling, Arts Officer; Kelly Mooney, Graduate Recruit; Dermot Mulligan, Museum Curator and Carlow Ireland 2016 Coordinator; Aileen Nolan, Carlow Arts Office.