Exhibitions and Tours
Exhibition: Revolution 1916 at the Ambassador Theatre
The Revolution 1916 Exhibition which opened on 27th February 2016 at the Ambassador Theatre on O’Connell Street Dublin was the centrepiece of Sinn Féin’s Centenary Programme. It was here that Sinn Féin was founded in 1905 and in 1913 Irish Volunteers signed up at a mass meeting in the Theatre. Formerly known as the Rotunda Round Room, the Ambassador Theatre was part of the Rotunda Hospital and used as an assembly hall and social rooms.
Featured in the exhibition were over 500 artefacts from the Irish Volunteer Commemorative Organisation including an original Proclamation, a wide range of weaponry and various uniforms including Cumann Na mBan and Na Fianna. At midday each day the Proclamation was read aloud outside the Ambassador by a uniformed Pádraig Pearse.
The exhibition provided a day by day account of the Easter Rising and included an exact replica of the GPO in 1916. There were biographies of the leaders and a replica of the Stonebreakers Yard had been created where the leaders of the Easter Rising were executed with their last words echoing in the background. The exhibition also explored the aftermath of the Rising dealing with the 1918 General Election, the First Dáil Eireann 1919, the War of Independence and the Treaty.
The exhibition placed a strong emphasis on the role of women in the Rising and featured the story of Molly O’Reilly who went from working in a soup kitchen during the Dublin Lockout in 1913 to raising the flag on Liberty Hall before the Rising and operating as a spy for Michael Collins in the War of Independence. The Molly O’Reilly Sculpture by Stuart Dunne was one of the dominant exhibits. Before venturing around the exhibition, there was a 10 minute speech given by James Connolly Heron, Great-Grandson of James Connolly. I visited the exhibition on Wednesday 23rd March 2016.
To view the exhibition I recommend you watch Sinn Féin’s video here
My Ticket for the Revolution 1916 Exhibition
Information Leaflet
Two Sinn Féin Posters for the Revolution 1916 Exhibition
Revolution 1916 Beer-Mat
Revolution 1916-The Original and Authentic Exhibition
This 48-page illustrated booklet provides an overview to the Revolution 1916 Exhibition. Included is a floor plan with details and photographs of the numerous artefacts on view. Articles featured include; the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Easter Rising itself, Molly O’Reilly, a brief history of the Ambassador Theatre, Poetry of the Revolution, pages from Art O’Murnaghan’s Book of the Rising, the eleven garrisons as painted by artist Charles Hulgraine and the 35th Anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike. The foreword was written by Gerry Adams.
Exhibition: Casement in Kerry: A Revolutionary Journey
On Thursday 21st April 2016, President Michael D. Higgins officially opened the exhibition entitled, “Casement in Kerry: A Revolutionary Journey” in the Kerry County Museum, Tralee. This exhibition gave an overview of Roger Casement’s life, from his early years to his consular career, from international humanitarian to revolutionary, his arrest, trial, execution and repatriation. On display were numerous personal items such as letters, photographs and artefacts which were donated to the museum. The centrepieces of the exhibition were the flat-bottomed boat on loan from the Imperial War Museum which brought Roger Casement ashore to Banna Strand and a map drawn by Casement showing where he reputedly buried gold and silver coins along with a lamp and a pair of binoculars near Banna Strand before he was arrested on Good Friday 1916. This map was purchased at auction by the Kerry Museum.
Information Leaflet
Poster for the Exhibition
Exhibition: Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Rising
The exhibition “Proclaiming a Republic: The 1916 Rising” was officially launched on Wednesday 2nd March 2016 by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the National Museum of Ireland, Collin’s Barracks, Dublin. The exhibition opened to the public the following day Thursday 3rd March 2016. This was one of the largest displays of material relating to the Rising with many of the objects never having been on public display before. The comprehensive collection of artefacts contained everything from weapons to uniforms, handwritten messages to first-aid supplies. Also included was an original Copy of the Proclamation, the Irish Flag that flew over the GPO and the Starry Plough Flag that flew over the Imperial Hotel.
The exhibition can be viewed at the Ireland 2016 video here
Leaflet announcing the opening of the Exhibition
Information leaflet in English
Information leaflet in Irish
Exhibition: Roger Casement Voice of the Voiceless
This exhibition was held at the National Museum of Ireland from the 3rd August 2016 and explored Roger Casement’s humanitarian work in Africa and South America.
Information leaflet
Exhibition: Dublin Fire Brigade and the 1916 Rising
The Dublin Fire Brigade and the 1916 Rising exhibition was officially launched on Monday 25th January by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh in Dublin City Hall. It told the story of Dublin’s fire-fighters during Easter Week; their dangerous working conditions often under fire and the exhibits highlighted the destruction to the city. The material was drawn from the Dublin Fire Brigade Museum and private collections and included the log book that gives an account of the Battle of Mount Street Bridge. The story of fire-fighter Joe Connolly is also told. He fought with the Irish Citizen Army and would later go on to be the Chief Fire Officer of Dublin.
Information Leaflet
Exhibition: Citizens in Conflict
The exhibition “Citizens in Conflict” ran from the 13th January 2016 to 25th June 2016 at the Dublin City Library and Archive, Pearse Street, Dublin. This exhibition included eye-witness accounts of the Easter Rising and remembered the 257 civilians who were killed including the 40 children. It had a particular focus on the Pearse Street area of the city {formerly Brunswick Street} where Pádraig and William Pearse grew up and where the Boland’s Mills Garrison was commanded by Eamon de Valera.
Curfew Pass for the Exhibition
Double Sided Poster for the Exhibition
Exhibition: 1916 Easter Rising in St. Stephen’s Green Park
This exhibition by the Office of Public Works was launched on 14th March 2016 by Commissioner John McMahon. It featured twenty illustrated outdoor panels standing in significant places within the park which told the story of the Easter Rising in St. Stephen’s Green. The exhibition ran until the 31st December 2016.
Booklet from the Office of Public Works
A Parliamentary Exhibition of State Art
A 16-page illustrated booklet entitled “Signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic-1916.” A Parliamentary Exhibition of State Art produced by the Houses of the Oireachtais and the Office of Public Works.
GPO Witness History Visitor Centre
The GPO Witness History Visitor Centre was officially launched on Friday 25th March 2016 by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys. It opened to the public on Tuesday 29th March 2016. This visitor centre is one of the State’s permanent 2016 Reminder Projects and allows visitors to experience the events of the 1916 Easter Rising and its Aftermath. It contains original artefacts such as weapons, uniforms and medals as well as banks of interactive touch-screens and a memorial to all those who fought in and around the GPO. The courtyard area features a commissioned memorial created by artist Barbara Knezevic for the 40 children killed during the Rising. The memorial entitled, “They are of US All” is made from 40 pieces of black limestone which came from the ruins of Jacob’s Biscuit Factory. Each stone represents a child.
My Ticket for the GPO Witness Visitor Centre which I visited
On the Opening Day Tuesday 29th March 2016
Information Leaflets
A Mini and an A4 Poster
Cork City 1916 Centenary Exhibitions
There were three exhibitions across Cork City to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising. The Cork Military Museum at Collin’s Barracks featured many original artefacts including uniforms and various documents. The Cork Public Museum at Fitzgerald’s Park also had a collection of original material and included testaments and stories from the people of Cork during the 1916 Rising. At St. Peter’s Cork, North Main Street the exhibition entitled, “Rebellion” by Rachel Abrahams focused on the less well-known participants.
Information Leaflet
Exhibition: From Colonial State to Free State-What they said
This exhibition was launched on Thursday 3rd March 2016 by Councillor Peter Roche and the Director of the National Archives John McDonough at Áras an Chontae. The Galway County Council Archives produced this bi-lingual exhibition which charts the change in political attitudes during the revolutionary period. This is illustrated from a wide variety of collections such as the minutes from the Tuam Town Commissioners and the Loughrea Rural District Council. The exhibition was on display in Áras an Chontae until the end of April 2016 before travelling around the county to various venues including Loughrea and Oranmore Libraries.
Booklet that accompanied the Exhibition
Exhibition: MacBride-Snatch up the Torch from the Slumbering Fire
This exhibition on the life of Major John MacBride was launched on Wednesday 17th August 2015 in Arás Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, County Mayo. It was researched by Pauline Scott with the assistance of historian Anthony Jordan and designed by Hugh Trayer. The exhibition features many artefacts and images including; his watch, his walking-cane, his Sam Brown belt, his lucky coin and rare photographs and letters.
Booklet that accompanied the Exhibition
Rising Photographic Exhibition
This photographic exhibition opened at the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar in February 2016. It showcased the National Library of Ireland’s rich imagery of the events and locations in 1916. It also included short audio pieces featuring eye-witness accounts of the Rebellion.
Double Sided Advertising Card
1916 Portrait of Lives Exhibition
This exhibition at Kilmainham Gaol features 42 portraits by David Rooney included in the book “1916 Portraits and Lives” from the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of Irish Biography dealing with 42 men and women involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.
Two posters from the Exhibition
Exhibition and Seminar: Thomas Clarke
This exhibition and seminar for Thomas Clarke was held on Saturday 31st October 2015 at the City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin and featured memorabilia from the Clarke family. The event was organised by the Thomas Clarke Memorial Committee and the 1916-21 Club to raise awareness of his role in the 1916 Easter Rising.
Posters for the Thomas Clarke Exhibition and Seminar
Creative Centenaries: Making History 1916 Exhibition
Series of events including an exhibition held in the Ulster Museum between the 3rd June 2016 and 18th September 2016 with 1916 Easter Rising content.
Information Leaflet
The Corr Family Witnessing History Exhibition 1916
A 4-page leaflet for the exhibition “The Corr Family Witnessing History” held in Belfast’s Linen Hall from 5th April to 30th April 2016 and the Ulster Museum from 27th July to 23rd August 2016. This exhibition tells the story of the Corr family from Belfast’s Ormeau Road in the 1916 Easter Rising and First World War using original sources and personal accounts.
Information Leaflet
Material Witness-Nollaig Molloy
This exhibition entitled “Material Witness” was held at the Roscommon Arts Centre from 26th March 2016 to 3rd June 2016. It was officially opened by Albert Siggins from the Museum of Country Life, Castlebar and featured new works by Nollaig Molloy.
Information Leaflet
Information leaflet for the Irish Republican History Museum Belfast
Leaflets for various 1916 Tours
Glasnevin Cemetery
1916 Rising Tour
The 1916 Tour
Ride the Revolution
Night Tour
1916 Rebellion Walking Tour
Dublin Visitor Map
Cobh Walking Tour
A further selection of my Irish Collectables and Memorabilia which is a work in progress can be viewed here
Remembering The 1916 Rising 