The ambition of Ireland 2016 is that people everywhere, in Ireland and overseas, will discover more about 1916 and that period in our history, will participate in events that are being held all around the country and abroad, and will gain access to newly available online historical and cultural material about 1916, as well as material about the centenary programme.
The overarching themes for the year are Remember, Reflect, Reimagine:
- Remembering our history and in particular the events of 1916
- Reflecting on our achievements as a Republic in the intervening century
- Reimagining our future for coming generations
The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations (EAG) was established by the Taoiseach in 2011 to advise the Government on historical matters relating to the Decade of Centenaries, the centerpiece of which is 1916. In developing the Ireland 2016 programme, full regard has been taken of the requirement of the EAG that the programme should ‘encompass the different traditions on the island of Ireland and … enhance understanding of and respect for events of importance among the population as a whole’ and that it should also ‘foster deeper mutual understanding among people from different traditions on the island of Ireland.’
The All-Party Oireachtas Group on Commemorations has equal representation from all parties in the Oireachtas as well as independents. The group meets on a regular basis with a view to ensuring that commemorative events are conducted on a non-partisan, inclusive basis.
The Ireland 2016 programme, comprising thousands of events in Ireland and overseas, is the outcome of a lengthy period of consultation at institutional and local level, and the development of a multitude of partnerships and alliances.
The programme spans the entire year but there is a particular focus on the events of Easter Week.
Is é aidhm Éire 2016 go bhfoghlaimeoidh daoine i ngach áit, in Éirinn agus thar lear, níos mó faoi 1916 agus faoin tréimhse sin inár stair, go mbeidh siad páirteach sna himeachtaí atá á reáchtáil ar fud na tíre agus thar lear, agus go bhfaighidh siad rochtain ar ábhar stairiúil agus cultúrtha atá ar fáil den chéad uair ar líne maidir le 1916, mar aon le hábhar faoin gclár comórtha céad bliain.
Is iad na téamaí uileghabhálacha don bhliain Cuimhneamh, Machnamh, Athshamhlú:
- Ag cuimhneamh ar ár stair agus go háirithe imeachtaí 1916
- Ag machnamh ar ár n-éachtaí mar Phoblacht sna céad bliain ó shin i leith
- Ag athshamhlú ár dtodhchaí do na glúnta le teacht
Bhunaigh an Taoiseach an Grúpa Sainchomhairleach maidir le Comóradh (EAG) in 2011 chun comhairle a chur ar an Rialtas maidir le cúrsaí stairiúla a bhaineann le Deich mBliana na gCuimhneachán, arb é 1916 a lármhír. I bhforbairt chlár Éire 2016, tugadh aird iomlán ar riachtanas an EAG gur cheart don chlár ‘traidisiúin éagsúla ar oileán na hÉireann a chuimsiú agus ... tuiscint a bhreisiú agus meas a léiriú ar imeachtaí tábhachtacha i measc an daonra ina iomláine’ agus gur cheart ‘comhthuiscint níos doimhne a chothú i measc daoine ó thraidisiúin éagsúla ar oileán na hÉireann.’
Tá ionadaíocht chothrom ag Grúpa Oireachtais Uilepháirtí maidir le Comóradh ó gach páirtí san Oireachtas mar aon le neamhspleáigh. Tagann an grúpa le chéile go rialta lena chinntiú go reáchtáiltear imeachtaí comórtha ar bhonn neamhpháirtíneach, cuimsitheach.
Tá clár Éire 2016, ina bhfuil na mílte imeachtaí in Éirinn agus thar lear, ag tarlú mar thoradh ar thréimhse fada comhairliúcháin ag leibhéal institiúideach agus áitiúil, agus forbairt iliomad comhpháirtíochtaí agus comhghuaillíochtaí.
Mairfidh an clár ar feadh na bliana ar fad ach tá fócas ar leith ar imeachtaí Sheachtain na Cásca.