Reply - Q12 Commemorations Committee

COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 09, 2015

QUESTION NO.12

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Chief Executive to state if the Council has been allocated money for commemorating the Easter Rising for 2015 and 2016; and to report on the work undertaken to date to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising, the 150th Anniversary of the 1867 Fenian Rising (including the Battle of Tallaght) and other national and local anniversaries for this year and the remainder of the Council's term?

REPLY:

Commemorations Committee

At the first meeting of the committee held last November, it was agreed by the elected members that commemorations committee would initially focus on the development and delivery of a programme of commemorations for 1916 in South Dublin County.

The programme will focus on celebrating the people’s past and celebrating the ideals of the 1916 proclamation e.g. ‘Cherishing all the children of the nation equally’.

Purpose and Key Priorities

The committee should focus on a People’s History of 1916 with a particular emphasis on the role of women, children and local/new communities.
Public Consultation/Call for submissions should be carried with the citizens of the County to gather stories and to archive materials.
1916 school pack to produced for distribution to schools in the County
Public piece of Art based on the values outlined in 1916 Proclamation
1916 Historic Trail for the County
Legacy of 1916

An interdepartmental project team has been established to progress the programme and they are currently working on the Public Consultation Phase.

In addition at the request of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht a dedicated ‘Ireland 2016’ co-ordinator has been appointed by South Dublin County Council who will work at local level with the Ireland 2016 team as appropriate.

For 2015, the Council has allocated a sum of €50,000 for work of the Commemorations Committee. As part of the 2016 Council budgetary process an additional sum will be allocated based on the agreed events programme for the County.