Local 1916 commemoration events

The commemoration events building to the centenary of the 1916 Rising are becoming more frequent, writes Brian Byrne.

This past weekend alone, Kilcullen hosted the talk to the County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups by Adhamhnán Ó Súilleabháin about his grandfather, 1916 veteran Domhnall Ua Buachalla, from Maynooth.

A week before there was a book launch in Arus Chill Dara, ‘Through Peace and War, Kildare County Council in the Revolution Years, 1896 – 1926’. Pictured above at that are Cllr Fiona O’Loughlin, Chairperson of the Kildare Decade of Commemoration Committee; Mayor of Kildare, Brendan Weld; author Thomas Nelson with Acting Co Librarian and co-ordinator of Kildare Decade of Commemoration Committee, Marian Higgins. Cllr O'Loughlin's grandfather Joseph O’Loughlin was on the very first County Council in Kildare in 1898 and is featured in Tom's book

The County Kildare Decade of Commemorations programme already has over 90 events listed, with more to be added. These include concerts, school pageants, book launches, drama, musical and dance performances, art exhibitions, lectures and seminars.

"This is an opportunity for all of us in County Kildare to commemorate these great events and celebrate our history," Cllr Fiona O'Loughlin said as the programme continued on Sunday with the unveiling of the John Devoy statue at Poplar Square, Naas.