We have big plans for 1916 Easter Rising celebrations

THE year 2016 promises to be a very exciting one for Dublin, when we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, that pivotal event that had such an impact on this city and which which laid the foundation stones for our independence.

The Government’s Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme includes an exciting range of events and projects to commemorate the 1916 Rising, reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and look ambitiously to our future. I’m hoping as many people as possible across Dublin will get involved.

We will host more than 40 formal State events, which will start this August with the commemoration of the funeral of O’Donovan Rossa. Anyone who has taken the tour of Glasnevin Cemetery will be familiair with Pearse’s famous speech at the funeral, which many argue acted as a catalyst in the lead up to the Rising.

Our Defence Forces will play a central role in the commemorations and will lead all State events, the centrepiece of which is the landmark Easter Sunday parade on O’Connell Street. Others will include wreath laying ceremonies to mark the moments when the first shots of the Rising were fired, and to mark the execution of the 1916 leaders.

A special State reception will be held for 1916 relatives on Easter Saturday. It is important to me that the relatives, who have such a personal connection to the Rising, are involved. The Department of Defence is verifying and compiling a list of relatives, so if you are a relative and you who would like to attend State events, you can access forms at www.defence.ie.

I am particularly excited about the education element of the programme, which will be rolled out to schools across the country from September of this year.

School children will be asked to take a fresh look at the Proclamation and will, through an action learning project, be asked to write a Proclamation for their schools. A flag and a copy of the Proclamation will be delivered to every school in the country and through an Ancestry Project, we will encourage children to trace their family trees back to 1916.

All of this will culminate in Proclamation Day on the 15th of March next year, where every school in the country will raise the national flag, read the Proclamation and showcase their work to parents and community.

Our cultural institutions have developed some fantastic plans for 2016. A major exhibition on 1916 will be held in the National Museum in Collins Barracks. The National Library will hold

‘Collection Days’ inviting people to bring pictures, letters or other artefacts that tell the stories of the seven signatories and others and the National Archives is making fascinating material available online, including secret files from the Dublin Metropolitan Police.

It’s very important that we have a lasting legacy from the 2016 commemorations. The Government is supporting seven major building and restoration projects which will provide a

‘permanent reminder’ to the events of 1916.

Major new visitor facilities are being developed at a number of locations across the city, including the GPO, Kilmainham Gaol and the Military Archives. A new Tenement Museum is also being developed on Henrietta Street.

And I was delighted to get agreement from Government to purchase the national monument at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street. A Commemorative Centre will be developed at the site, which was the final headquarters of the 1916 leaders.

2016 is a special year; a time for us all to take stock, to reflect on the kind of Ireland we have, and the kind of Ireland we want to bring about. I hope you will choose to get involved.

Heather Humphreys is the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.