The numerous, conflicting, and contradictory orders their leaders received in the days immediately prior to Easter weekend, and the failure to land the weapons from the
Aud, precluded their deployment in offensive action. That said, the death of Richard Kent in the fire-fight at the Kent family home in Castlelyons on 2 May, and the subsequent execution of his brother Tom in Cork, are rightly included in the list of casualties of the Rising. Of course a number of Cork-born Volunteers did participate in the active fighting in Dublin, with Seán Hurley of Drinagh among those killed in action on the republican side.
The scuttling of the arms ship, the Aud, in Cork harbour adds a naval/maritime dimension to the Cork commemorations.
What of the longer term impact of the 1916 Rising? Firstly the ideals and inspiring phrases in the Proclamation – “the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland”, “The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens”, and so on - were central to the thinking and actions of Cork Republican leaders such as Terence MacSwiney and Tadhg Barry.
Secondly it is reasonable to posit a connection between the perceived ‘failure’ of the Volunteers in Cork to rise in support of their counterparts in Dublin during Easter Week, and the fact that Cork city and county became the epicentre of the republican military campaign against British rule in Ireland during the War of Independence. This campaign represents, arguably, the principal legacy of the Rising in the city and county.
Cork City’s Commerorative Programme
Echoing the inspirational impact of the Proclamation, the programme in Cork city will have a very strong emphasis on Cultural Expression and on Youth and Imagination, with a wide range of imaginative projects planned: creative writing, music, drama, visual art and events for and by young people. The other themes will also feature. Community Participation will be crucially important; commemorations are predicated on participation on a voluntary basis, which in turn is inspired by an affinity with the memory of the voluntary commitment shown by those involved in the Rising.
It is vital that commemorations, and reflections on the future, are based on accurate information, on what actually happened, and the City Council is committed to ensuring that accurate information is available to all.
Central to the City Council’s programme will be the establishment of a Centre of Commemoration for the entire year in the former St Peter’s Church, North Main Street, in the heart of the city. This will house permanent and changing exhibitions and programmes and will act as a wayfinder for 1916-related events in the region.
Ní raibh baint acu leis an troid féin de dheasca go raibh mearbhall ar cheannairí na n-óglach agus orduithe éagsúla ag teacht chuchu na laethanta roimh dheireadh seachtaine na Cásca agus toisc gur teipeadh ar an iarracht airm an Aud a thabhairt i dtír. Ach é sin ráite, is ceart beirt a chur san áireamh ina measc siúd a fuair bás san Éirí Amach. Cailleadh Risteard Ceannt ar an 2 Bealtaine i dteach a mhuintire i gCaisleán Ó Liatháin nuair a lámhachadh é. Cuireadh a dheartháir Tomás chun báis ina dhiaidh sin. Bhí roinnt Óglach de bhunadh Chorcaí páirteach sa troid féin i mBaile Átha Cliath. Orthu sin bhí Seán Ó Muirthile as Draighneach a bhí ag troid ar son na bpoblachtánach.
Tá baint ag an bhfarraige leis an gcomóradh i gCorcaigh de bharr gur ligeadh don Aud, bád arm, dul go tóin poill i gCuan Chorcaí.
Ach cén tionchar a bhí ag Éirí Amach 1916 ar na glúinte ina dhiaidh? Sa chéad áit, ábhar spreagúil do Thraolach Mac Suibhne agus do Thadhg de Barra ina gcuid machnaimh agus gníomhaíochtaí frásaí an Fhorógra ar nós – “gur ceart ceannasach dochlóite ceart mhuintir na hÉireann chun seilbh na hÉireann” agus “Ráthaíonn an phoblacht saoirse creidimh agus saoirse shibhialta, comhchearta agus comhdheiseanna, dá saoránaigh uile”.
Sa dara háit, d’fhéadfaí a áiteamh go bhfuil baint idir an ‘teip’, más ea, ar na hÓglaigh i gCorcaigh tacú lena gcomhghleacaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath le linn Sheachtain na Cásca agus an ról lárnach a bhí ag Corcaigh i gCogadh na gCarad. Bhí Corcaigh mar áit ríthábhachtach d’fheachtas míleata na bPoblachtánach i gcoinne cheannasaíocht na Breataine. Tugann an feachtas seo le fios gur fhág an tÉirí Amach a rian ar Chorcaigh, idir chathair agus chontae.
Clár comórtha chathair chorcaí
Tá réimse leathan tionscadal ar na bioráin i gCathair Chorcaí, ina measc: scríbhneoireacht chruthaitheach, ceol, drámaíocht, na hamharcealaíona agus imeachtaí don óige chomh maith le himeachtaí eagraithe ag an aos óg féin. Tógfaidh an clár i gCorcaigh a chuid ionsparáide as tionchar spreagúil an Fhorógra agus leagfar anbhéim ar Léiriú Cultúrtha agus ar An Óige Agus An tSamhlaíocht. Beidh téamaí eile i gceist chomh maith. Beidh tábhacht nach beag ag an bpáirt a bheidh ag an bpobal; táthar ag súil go n-eagrófar ócáidí comórtha ar bhonn deonach, rud a bheidh ina chuimhne orthu siúd a ghlac páirt dheonach san Éirí Amach.
Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeidh eolas cruinn in úsáid sna hócáidí comórtha seo mar aon le hócáidí ina mbeidh machnamh ar a bhfuil le teacht. Tá sé mar rún ag Comhairle na Cathrach eolas cruinn a chur ar fáil do chách.
Dlúthchuid de chlár Chomhairle na Cathrach is ea an tIonad Comórtha a bheidh oscailte ar feadh na bliana agus a bheidh lonnaithe i sean-Eaglais N. Peadar, ar an bPríomhshráid Thuaidh i gceartlár na cathrach. Beidh taispeántas buan san ionad seo mar aon le taispeántais éagsúla le linn na bliana. Cuirfear ar fáil ann leis eolas ar na himeachtaí a bheidh ar siúl i gcomóradh ar an mbliain 1916 ar fud an cheantair.