The County’s Plan for 2016 is very much in keeping with the National Centenary Programme, with of course a strong County Cork focus. Indeed one could easily contend that the Rising cannot be fully understood without the stories of the Rebel County.
Two of the Proclamation signatories, James Connolly and Tomás MacDonagh, spent a considerable part of their working lives in Cork (Youghal/Cobh and Fermoy respectively). A number of events will be held in their honour next year.
Sixteen leaders of the Rising were executed but the only execution in Ireland outside of Dublin was that of Castlelyons man Thomas Kent, executed in Cork on 9th May 1916. Kent played an important role in organising the Irish Volunteers. In his honour, this plan contains a number of commemorative events and initiatives including a play, the commissioning of a special piece of music, a State Ceremonial Event on 9th May 2016, and a large community commemorative day in Castlelyons six days later.
Skibbereen native, Gearóid O’ Súilleabháin, was the man chosen by Pádraig Pearse to raise the Irish Flag over the GPO and it is fitting to see a number of events in Skibbereen in his memory. Not too far from Skibbereen is a village called Drinagh, home to Seán Hurley, another prominent Corkman and the only Corkonian to have been killed in the Easter Rising in Dublin. The Drinagh community has organised a range of events in commemoration of Seán Hurley, the man who introduced Michael Collins to the IRB in London. Collins subsequently took part in the Rising and we are all very much aware of his involvement in the Irish cause thereafter.
Diarmuid Lynch, from Tracton, was a a prominent member of the Supreme Council of the IRB and was chosen by Pádraig Pearse to identify the best location for the landing of the German ship, the Aud, which it was hoped would provide over 20,000 rifles to the Volunteers. The Aud never reached its intended destination, and after having been escorted by the British to Queenstown (Cobh), it was scuttled near Daunt’s Rock in Cork Harbour on April 22nd 1916 by its captain, Karl Spindler. The Aud operation had been months in the planning, involving both the Irish at home and in the United States. In 2016, for the first time, the anchor from the Aud will go on public display in Cobh.
The decision to go ahead with the Rising after the loss of the Aud and its cargo was made by five men at a late night meeting in Dublin on Easter Saturday: Pádraig Pearse, Tomás MacDonagh, Joseph Plunkett, Seán MacDiarmada, and Diarmuid Lynch from Cork. Lynch is thought by many to have been been the last to leave the GPO and there will be a number of events in his honour next year including a seminar to be held on the anniversary of his release from prison on 16th June 1917.
Cork’s important role in the Rising cannot be underestimated and neither can the readiness and willingness of over 1,000 Volunteers from throughout the county. A mass mobilisation of volunteers took place on Easter Sunday, 23rd April 1916, many of whom went to Carriganima to collects arms expected from the Aud, only to later find out that the Rising had been called off by order of the Chief of Staff of the Irish Volunteers, Eoin MacNeill. Cork’s Volunteers only found out about the Rising in Dublin after it had begun.
There were dozens of Volunteer Companies in Cork who over the Easter Weekend rallied together in anticipation of events to come. The Ballingeary Company marched to Kealkill; the Mallow, Castletownroche, Blarney and Grenagh companies mobilised at Bweeng; the Newmarket Company mobilised at Barley Hill, and numerous volunteers came from the City through Crookstown and Kilmurry, including the Ballinhassig Volunteer Company. Next year a number of re-enactment marches will take place in memory of these and other Volunteer Groups. In addition, a number of events will be held to reflect the involvement of individual Volunteers and indeed those Corkonians who were instrumental in Ireland’s Cause, both before the Rising such as Jeremiah O’ Donovan Rossa and after such as Michael Collins and Diarmuid Lynch.
Cork County’s Commemorative Plan
Cork County’s Plan for 2016 contains over 300 undertakings in over 70 locations. The plan has had the wonderful benefit of input from some 200 people who attended workshops at six locations throughout the County in June 2015: over one hundred submissions from community groups and organisations, and not least the oversight of Cork County Council’s all-party 1916 Commemorative Committee. The Council’s executive including Library Service, Arts Office, Heritage Office, Irish Office, Tourism Office and Corporate Affairs will also be involved in a range of events, together with the City and County Archives and University College Cork.
This plan is set out under seven strands, mirroring the National Centenary Programme. The Ceremonial Strand for the county will see eighteen events including two formal State events held in conjunction with Cork City council, one on Easter Monday 2016 and the other, commemorating the the execution of Thomas Kent, on 9th May 2016. These events will involve many communities as well as 1916 Relatives groups whose involvement is paramount. On 28th March delegates from the County will march into Cork City to meet with City Counterparts in commemoration of the Rising, culminating in a ceremonial event with synchronised wreath laying.
The greatest number of projects/events for 2016 fall under the Historical Reflection strand (over 110). These events cover everything from lectures and reenactments to publications and oral heritage (to which great importance is attached). The Irish language is also strongly represented in this plan with over 15 events taking place, the majority in Cork’s two Gaeltacht’s: Múscraí and Oileán Cléire.
Inter-generational learning is another guiding principle of this plan. Close to 30 projects are being undertaken to engage the County’s youth in all things 1916. Over 40 Cultural events will take place. Community organised events and projects – close to 90 in total – will be spread throughout the year. There will be at least 10 Diaspora related events to celebrate our shared heritage, some home based and some that will reach-out to the Cork Diaspora. There will also be projects overseas, organised with the County’s twinned towns, a particular delight for which we send thanks to our friends abroad.
It is hoped that the centenary next year and the plans and projects being undertaken in Cork will awaken our senses to the importance of this year to the Irish, and indeed of how proud we are to be Irish. In 2016, therefore, we should not only commemorative the events of 1916 but also acknowledge the importance and relevance of the Proclamation as did one widely known Corkman – General Tom Barry – many years ago: ‘The 1916 proclamation appeared to me to be a brief history in itself. In it were the call to arms, the declaration of rights, the history of the nation and of the six previous risings, the establishment of a Provisional Government, the call for discipline, and the appeal to the Most High for His Blessing…the beauty of those words enthralled me. Lincoln at Gettysburg does not surpass it nor does any other recorded proclamation of history’.
Tá Plean an Chontae le haghaidh 2016 ar aon dul leis an gClár Náisiúnta Comórtha Céad Bliain, agus tá díriú tréan iontu, dar ndóigh, ar Chontae Chorcaí. D’fhéadfaí a mhaíomh, go deimhin, nach bhféadfaí tuiscint iomlán a fháil ar an Éirí Amach gan scéalta an Chontae Reibiliúnaigh a chur san áireamh.
Chaith beirt de shínitheoirí an Fhorógra, James Connolly agus Tomás Mac Donnchadha, go leor dá saol oibre i gCorcaigh (in Eochaill/an Cóbh agus i Mainistir Fhear Maí, faoi seach). Beidh roinnt imeachtaí ar siúl ina n-onóir an bhliain seo chugainn.
Cuireadh seisear ceannasaithe dhéag an Éirí Amach chun báis, ach ba é an t-aon duine a cuireadh chun báis lasmuigh de Bhaile Átha Cliath ná fear dúchais Chaisleán Ó Liatháin, Thomas Kent, a cuireadh chun báis i gCorcaigh an 9 Bealtaine 1916. D’imir Kent ról tábhachtach chun Óglaigh na hÉireann a eagrú. Ina onóir, cuimsítear sa phlean seo líon imeachtaí agus tionscnaimh chomórtha, lena n-áirítear dráma, píosa speisialta ceoil a choimisiúnú, Imeacht Comórtha Stáit an 9 Bealtaine 2016, mar aon le lá mór comórtha pobail i gCaisleán Ó Liatháin sé lá ina dhiaidh sin.
Ba é fear dúchais an Sciobairín, Gearóid Ó Suilleabháin, an fear a roghnaigh Pádraig Mac Piarais chun Bratach na hÉireann a ardú os cionn Ard-Oifig an Phoist agus is oiriúnach go mbeidh roinnt imeachtaí sa Sciobairín i gcuimhne air. Tá sráidbhaile ar a dtugtar Draighneach suite gar go leor don Sciobairín agus b’áit dúchais Sheáin Hurley é seo, Corcaíoch mór le rá eile agus an t-aon Chorcaíoch a maraíodh in Éirí Amach na Cásca i mBaile Átha Cliath. D’eagraigh pobal Dhraighní réimse imeachtaí chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar Sheán Hurley, an fear a chuir Mícheál Ó Coileáin in aithne don IRB i Londain. Ghlac an Coileánach páirt san Éirí Amach ina dhiaidh sin agus tá an-chur amach againn go léir ar an mbaint a bhí aige i gcás na hÉireann ina dhiaidh sin.
Ba chomhalta mór le rá é Diarmuid Ó Loingsigh, ó Thrácht Fhionn, de Chomhairle Uachtarach an IRB agus roghnaigh Pádraig Mac Piarais é chun an láthair is fearr a roghnú do theacht i dtír na loinge Gearmánaí, an Aud – bhíothas ag súil leis go soláthródh an long seo os cionn 20,000 raidhfil do na hÓglaigh. Níor bhain an Aud a ceann scríbe beartaithe amach riamh, agus i ndiaidh go ndearna long Bhriotanach é a thionlacan chuig Queenstown (an Cóbh), rinne captaen na loinge, Karl Spindler, an long a scuitleáil i ngar do Charraig Daunt i gCuan Chorcaí an 22 Aibreán 1916. Glacadh roinnt míonna chun oibriúchán an Aud a phleanáil, agus bhí baint ag na hÉireannaigh in Éirinn agus sna Stáit Aontaithe araon ann. In 2016, den chéad uair, taispeánfar an t-ancaire ón Aud go poiblí sa Chóbh.
Rinne cúigear fear ag cruinniú go déanach san oíche ar Dhomhnach Cásca an cinneadh chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an Éirí Amach i ndiaidh gur cailleadh an Aud agus an lastas a bhí air. Ba iad siúd Pádraig Mac Piarais, Tomás Mac Donnchadha, Joseph Plunkett, Seán Mac Diarmada, agus Diarmuid Ó Loingsigh ó Chorcaigh. Measann go leor daoine go raibh an Loingseach ar an duine deireanach chun Ard-Oifig an Phoist a fhágáil agus beidh roinnt imeachtaí ar siúl ina onóir an bhliain seo chugainn, ina measc seimineár a bheidh ar siúl ar chothrom lae a scaoilte ón bpríosún an 16 Meitheamh 1917.
Ní féidir beag is fiú a dhéanamh den ról a chomhlíon Corcaigh san Éirí Amach, ná ní féidir amhlaidh a dhéanamh d’ullmhacht agus toilteanas os cionn 1,000 Óglach ó áiteanna ar fud an Chontae. Tharla ollearcú óglach Domhnach Cásca an 23 Aibreán 1916, ar ghabh go leor díobh chuig Carraig an Ime chun airm a bhailiú ón Aud, tar éis gur cuireadh ar an eolas iad, ní ba dhéanaí, gur thug Ceann Foirne Óglaigh na hÉireann, Eoin Mac Néill, an t-ordú chun an tÉirí Amach a chur ar ceal. Níor cuireadh Óglaigh Chorcaí ar an eolas faoin Éirí Amach i mBaile Átha Cliath ach tar éis gur cuireadh tús leis.
Tháinig go leor Complachtaí Óglach i gCorcaigh le chéile i gcaitheamh Dheireadh Seachtaine na Cásca agus iad ag súil leis na himeachtaí a thitfeadh amach. Mháirseáil Complacht Bhéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh go dtí an Chaolchoill; tháinig Complachtaí Bhaile Chaisleáin an Róistigh, na Blarnan agus Ghreanaí le chéile ag na Boinn; tháinig Complacht Áth Trasna le chéile ag Cnoc na hEorna, agus tháinig roinnt Óglach ón gCathair tríd an mBaile Gallda agus Cill Mhuire, Complacht Óglaigh Bhéal Átha an Cheasaigh ina measc. Beidh roinnt máirseálacha athchruthaithe ar siúl an bhliain seo chugainn i gcuimhne na ndaoine seo agus Grúpaí Óglach eile. Anuas air sin, beidh roinnt imeachtaí ar siúl chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar an mbaint a bhí ag Óglaigh aonair agus, go deimhin, na Corcaígh siúd a ghlac páirt lárnach i gCás na hÉireann, roimh an Éirí Amach, ar nós Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa agus ina dhiaidh, Mícheál Ó Coileáin agus Diarmuid Ó Loingsigh.
Clár Comórtha Corcaigh
Cuimsítear i bPlean Chontae Chorcaí don bhliain 2016 os cionn 300 gníomhaíocht i mbreis agus 70 láthair. Chuaigh ionchur thart ar 200 duine a d’fhreastail ar cheardlanna ag sé láthair ar fud an Chontae i Meitheamh 2015; os cionn céad aighneacht a fuarthas ó ghrúpaí agus eagraíochtaí pobail, agus ní ná laghad maoirseacht Choiste Comórtha uilepháirtí 1916 Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí, chun mórshochar an phlean. Anuas air sin, beidh baint ag feidhmeannacht na Comhairle, an tSeirbhís Leabharlainne, an Oifig Ealaíon, Oifig na Gaeilge, an Oifig Turasóireachta agus Gnóthaí Corparáideacha, ina measc, i réimse imeachtaí, i dteannta Chartlann na Cathrach agus an Chontae agus Choláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh.
Tá an plean leagtha amach faoi sheacht snáithe, a dhéanann macasamhlú ar an gClár Náisiúnta Comórtha Céad Bliain. Beidh ar a laghad ocht n-imeacht déag sa Snáithe Searmanais don chontae, lena n-áirítear dhá imeacht fhoirmiúla Stáit a bheidh ar siúl i gcomhar le Comhairle Cathrach Chorcaí, beidh ceann amháin ar siúl Luan Cásca 2016 agus beidh an ceann eile, a dhéanfaidh comóradh ar chur chun báis Thomas Kent, ar siúl an 9 Bealtaine 2016. Beidh go leor pobal bainteach sna himeachtaí seo, mar aon le Grúpaí gaolta 1916, a mbaineann ríthábhacht lena rannpháirtíocht. An 28 Márta, máirseálfaidh toscairí ón gContae isteach go Cathair Chorcaí chun casadh le Contrapháirtithe na Cathrach chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar an Éirí Amach, agus beidh imeacht searmanais ar siúl ina dhiaidh sin ina leagfar fleasc i gcomhthráth.
Tagann an líon is airde de thionscadail/ imeachtaí don bhliain 2016 faoi chuimsiú an tsnáithe ‘Athmhachnamh Stairiúil’ (os cionn 110). Cuimsíonn na himeachtaí seo go leor rudaí idir léachtaí agus athchruthaithe agus foilseacháin agus oidhreacht bhéil (a mbaineann an-tábhacht leo). Anuas air sin, déantar ionadaíocht thréan don Ghaeilge sa phlean seo agus beidh os cionn 15 imeacht ag titim amach, a mbeidh an tromlach díobh ar siúl in dhá Ghaeltacht Chorcaí – Múscraí agus Oileán Chléire.
Prionsabal treorach eile den phlean seo is ea foghlaim idirghlúine. Táthar ag tabhairt faoi nach mór 30 tionscadal chun rannpháirtíocht daoine óga an Chontae a spreagadh i ngach rud a bhaineann le 1916. Beidh os cionn 40 imeacht Cultúrtha ar siúl. Beidh imeachtaí agus tionscadail a eagraíonn an pobal – i ngar do 90 ar an iomlán – scaipthe ar fud na bliana. Beidh ar a laghad 10 n-imeacht a bhaineann le Diaspóra ar siúl chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar ár gcomhoidhreacht. Beidh roinnt bunaithe sa bhaile agus beidh cinn eile ann a shínfidh amach chuig Diaspóra Chorcaí. Anuas air sin, beidh tionscadail ar siúl thar lear, a eagrófar le bailte atá nasctha le bailte an Chontae, agus is rí-dheas linn seo agus gabhaimid buíochas lenár gcairde thar lear as ucht seo.
Táthar ag súil leis go músclóidh an comóradh céad bliain an bhliain seo chugainn agus na tionscadail faoina dtabharfar i gCorcaigh ár bhfeasacht ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an mbliain seo i measc na nÉireannach, agus go deimhin, ar a bhródúla atáimid bheith inár nÉireannaigh. In 2016, ar an ábhar sin, níor cheart dúinn ach imeachtaí 1916 a chomóradh, ach ba cheart dúinn tábhacht agus ábharthacht an Fhorógra a aithint, chomh maith, faoi mar a rinne Corcaíoch amháin a raibh aithne fhairsing air – an Ginearál Tom Barry – na cianta ó shin: ‘Ba chosúil domsa gurb éard atá i bhForógra 1916 ná stair achomair ann féin. Bhí ann an ghairm slógaidh, an dearbhú um chearta, stair an náisiúin agus stair na sé éirí amach roimhe seo, bunú Rialtais Shealadaigh, an ghairm disciplín, agus an impí ar Dhia Ró-Ard dá Bheannú…chuir áilleacht na bhfocal siúd faoi gheasa mé. Ní sháraíonn Lincoln ag Gettysburg é seo ná ní sháraíonn aon fhorógra eile a cuireadh i dtaifead sa stair’.