A 1916 commemoration event is set to take place later this week in Ballyfermot.
The Southside suburb will play host to a number of different performances and activities between April 21 and April 24, which marks the actual 100-year anniversary of the Rising.
In a statement to Southside People organisers said the four-day event is an opportunity for everyone to experience and participate in a broad range of creative arts, including live performances, exhibitions, and multi-media drama.
“This is the largest festival Ballyfermot has run in recent years and it is all thanks to the incredibly positive engagement of community organisations and committed individuals,” the festival organisers state.
All of the events will take place in the Ballyfermot Civic Community Centre.
One of the man attractions will be an original drama ‘Lost Voices’, which is adapted from Joe Duffy’s book about the children who died in the Easter Week fighting.
Popular folk band The Beermats, who have played many high profile gigs since they began in 1993, will also perform at a concert on the opening night of the celebration.
They have opened for Phil Coulter at The Rose of Tralee Festival and performed with groups like The Dubliners, The Fureys, The Wolfe Tones and The Dublin City Ramblers.
As it is a community event organisers have involved a number of schools in the commemoration weekend.
A number of secondary school students will take part in a debating competition, while 200 primary school students will attempt a ‘Living Flag’ event.
The Living Flag is a choreographed event where students will huddle together holding the green, white and orange and attempt to create a giant, almost animated, tricolour.
The events taking place over the weekend will double as a fundraising effort for the area.
As a result the organisers have urged local residents to support the weekend as much as possible by getting out and taking part.
“Any proceeds from the events will be used to fund next year’s festival as we are hoping to have an annual cultural weekend in the area again,” orgainsers added in the statement.
“Just as we are being asked to ‘Remember, Reclaim and Reimagine’ 1916 on a national scale, this festival is an opportunity for Ballyfermot to reimagine and reclaim our community.”
Graham McGrath