Funeral Centenary Commemoration
Glasnevin Cemetery-1st August 2015
The State Commemoration of the Centenary of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa on 1st August 2015 in Glasnevin Cemetery was the First Official State Event marking the Centenary of the Easter Rising. This funeral was the beginning of the countdown to the 1916 Easter Rising.
Jeremiah O’ Donovan Rossa was an Irish Fenian Leader and prominent member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was born on 10th September 1831 at Reenascreena, Roscarbery County Cork. He became a shopkeeper in Skibbereen where in 1856 he established the Phoenix National and Literary Society, the aim of which was the Liberation of Ireland by force of arms. This organisation later merged with the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
In 1865 O’Donovan Rossa was arrested and charged with plotting a Fenian Rising. He was put on trial for high treason and sentenced to penal servitude for life. During his incarceration, he had his hands manacled behind his back for 35 days during which he was forced to eat like an animal. After giving an understanding that he would not return to Ireland, O’Donovan Rossa was released as part of the Fenian Amnesty of 1870. He boarded the “SS Cuba” and left for the United States with his friend John Devoy and three other exiles Charles O’Connell, Henry Mullady and John McClure. Together they became known as “The Cuba Five.”
O’Donovan Rossa took up residence in New York where he joined Clan Na Gael and the Fenian Brotherhood. He established the newspaper “The United Irishman” which advocated the use of dynamite bombs as a means of overthrowing the British occupation. He organised the first ever bombings by Irish Republicans of English cities in what became known as the “Dynamite Campaign.” This campaign lasted through the 1880s and made him infamous in Britain.
Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa was seriously ill in his later years and died on 29th June 1915 in Staten Island. The Leadership of the Republican movement in Ireland saw an opportunity to use his death for propaganda purposes and requested their comrades in the United States to send his remains home for burial in Ireland. The 1915 Funeral Organising Committee contained many of those who would go on to play leading roles in the Easter Rising and War of Independence. The event became one of Dublin’s largest political funerals. As well as the hundreds of thousands of spectators, 20,000 people took part in the procession which passed by College Green, O’Connell Street and out the Glasnevin Road. It took several hours to pass each point on the route.
To watch some original footage of the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa, I recommend you watch Saoirse Éireann’s video here.
The graveside oration given by Pádraig Pearse remains one of the most famous speeches of the Irish Independence movement;
The Fools! The Fools! The Fools! They have left us our Fenian Dead and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.
Rousing Oration as part of the Glasnevin Cemetery Tour
To watch a re-enactment of Padraig Pearse’s Oration at O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral, I recommend you watch John O’Rourke’s video here.
President Michael D. Higgins led the Official State Commemoration in Glasnevin Cemetery. He was joined by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys. On arrival at the Cemetery, President Higgins inspected an armed guard provided by the Defence Forces 6th Infantry Battalion as the Army No.1 Band played Sarsfield’s Men. This was followed by a speech by Glasnevin Trust Chairman John Green. Defence Forces Chaplain Fr. Robert McCabe then recited a prayer and blessed the grave and an actor gave a powerful re-enactment of Pádraig Pearse’s graveside oration. President Higgins laid a wreath on Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa’s resting place while a volley of shots rang out from a Defence Forces Firing Party, the Tricolour was raised and Amhran Na bhFiann played.
To see the RTÉ State Commemoration of the Funeral of O’Donovan Rossa, you can watch Century Ireland’s video here.
Of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa
On 1st August 2015 at Glasnevin Cemetery
This Commemorative Booklet was reproduced by the Irish Government in conjunction with Glasnevin Trust on the occasion of the Centenary of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’ Donovan Rossa. The booklet with images is a reproduction of the 2nd edition published by the Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa Funeral Committee in 1915 to commemorate the funeral. The 1st edition of the booklet contained no images.
Sinn Fein also published this Centenary Edition of the 2nd Edition of
The 1915 Souvenir Programme
On 1st August 2015 exactly 100 years to the day, Sinn Féin held a re-enactment in Dublin of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa. Thousands attended with many hundreds of them actively participating by dressing in costumes of the period. The procession re-traced the steps of the original funeral cortege as it made its way from Dublin City Hall to Glasnevin Cemetery. There was a horse drawn hearse, cavalry riders, a thirty-strong guard of honour made up of members of the Cabra Historical Society, marching bands and members of Claíomh the Living History Group. Playing the part of Rev. Michael Flanagan, the priest who gave the oration as Rossa lay in State in City Hall was Allan Keating, while Edward Cosgrove gave Pádraig Pearse’s famous graveside oration. A wreath was laid by William and Rossa Cole, the Great-Grandsons of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.
Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa
Two Posters produced by Sinn Féin for their
Re-enactment of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa
To see Sinn Féin’s re-enactment of O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral, you can view it on YouTube channel here.
Also produced by Sinn Féin
When the American Liner St. Paul arrived at Pier Head Liverpool carrying the casket of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, orders were given from the various organisations in America that it was not to touch English soil on its way back to Dublin for burial. Fifty members of the Irish Volunteers from Liverpool carried the casket over two miles on their shoulders from Pier Head to Nelson Dock where it was put aboard the City of Dublin Boat.
On Saturday 10th October 2015, Cairde Na hÉireann Liverpool held a re-enactment dressed in period costume of the Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa funeral casket escort, tracing the exact steps taken 100 years ago. At Nelson Dock, Ian Prowse delivered Pádraig Pearse’s graveside oration.
Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa Coffin Escort Re-enactment
Saturday 10th October 2015 in Liverpool
You can watch the re-enactment of O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral casket escort by checking out sinkyboy40’s video here.
Two badges and two coins were issued for the commemoration of the Centenary of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.
This badge was produced by the Belfast National Graves Association. It shows an image of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, the dates 1831-1915 and is marked 100th Anniversary. The badge is finished in a green and gold colour; has a brooch type fixing and comes in a cushioned padded box.
1915-2015 Centenary Badge
This badge is part of a set of Irish Patriots Badges
The Glasnevin Cemetery Trust issued this Special Bronze Commemorative Coin. It features a head and shoulder image of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa above the dates 1831-1915. The reverse has an image of the Irish Tricolour with the inscription; Patriot Remembered-Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
In Skibbereen County Cork a limited run of Commemorative Coins were minted with the proceeds going towards the commemoration events organised in the town. This Bronze Coin comes in a clear plastic presentation box and is 40mm in diameter. It features a head and shoulder image of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa above the dates 1831-1915. The reverse bears the words; The Phoenix National Literary Society along with the iconic image of a phoenix, the name of the town of Skibbereen and the year 1856 in which the society was founded.
Graveside of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa
On 30th July 2015, An Post issued a 70c National Stamp and a First Day Cover with an insert marking the Centenary of Pádraig Pearse’s historic oration at the graveside of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa. The stamp was unveiled in Roscarbery County Cork by John Whelpley, Great-Grandson of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa. Designed by Red & Grey Design of Dublin, it features a graveside photograph of Pádraig Pearse from the Keogh Collection at the National Library.
An Post First Day Cover Insert
Setanta also issued a limited edition First Day Cover; hand-stamped on reverse and included an insert. The cover in my collection is No.12
Cork Philatelic Society
A souvenir cover issued by the Cork Philatelic Society for the Cork Stamp and Coin Exhibition held on the 12th November 2016 at the Imperial Hotel Cork.
Two privately produced First Day Covers
Post marked at Achill Sound {Gob an Choire}
An Post A3 Card Poster produced for the marketing of the commemorative
70c stamp issued 31st July 2015 for the Centenary of Pádraig Pearse’s
Speech at the graveside of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa
An Post-The Collector Magazine No.3/2015
Included in this issue of “The Collector Magazine” is Pádraig Pearse’s speech at the graveside of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.
The following First Day Covers in my collection were issued on 23rd October 1967 for the 100th Anniversary of the Fenian Rising.
The following First Day Covers in my collection were issued on 31st August 1981 for the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.
Artist W. J. Leech
Designed by Colin Harrison & Peter Wildbur
Hibernian Cover
Irish Times Cover
The following items complete my collection of memorabilia to mark the Centenary of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.
Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 for its exhibition,
“P. H. Pearse and the O’Donovan Rossa Funeral Oration
1st August 2015 to 5th January 2016
Skibbereen & District Historical Journal
This journal contains an article entitled, “Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, the most typical Fenian of them all” by Philip O’Regan.
Volume 2: 2015
Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa Beer-Mat
Produced by O’Driscoll’s Pub, Reenascreena County Cork for the Centenary of the Funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa
Advertising Posters for the play “Rossa”
This play was written by Maria Young and inspired by “Rossa” the 1945 award winning drama by Roger McHugh. It was directed by Denis O’Mahony and presented by the Kilmeen and Skibbereen Drama Societies with Baltimore and Schull Drama Groups. Performed 19th & 20th July in the Town Hall Theatre, Skibbereen and performed 25th & 26th July in St. Mary’s Theatre, Rossmore
Irish Times Newspaper-Saturday 1st August 2015
Weekend Review Page 2
Article O’Dynamite Rossa the First Terrorist
Decade of Centenaries 1915-1916 Belfast
Shared History-Different Allegiances
This booklet explores key historical moments that shaped the history of Northern Ireland and Ireland a century ago. Page No.4 gives details of a talk to be delivered by Dr. Eamon Phoenix on Tuesday 3rd November 2015 at the Banqueting Hall, Belfast City Hall entitled O’Donovan Rossa, the IRB Revival and the Road to 1916.
O’Donovan Rossa-An Irish Revolutionary in America
Published in 2016 this book is the first-ever translation of Ó Donnabháin II, the second volume of a biographical book on Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa written in Irish by Seán Ó Lúing.
A further selection of my Irish Collectables and Memorabilia which is a work in progress can be viewed here
Remembering The 1916 Rising 