Sir Roger Casement was captured by the RIC on Banna Strand, where he had been landed by a German U–Boat. He was then imprisoned in England. Subsequently, Casement was tried and sentenced to death.
The commemorative events in Kerry on 21 April begin at 8am at Ballykissane Pier.
On 21 April 1916 (Good Friday), four men were on their way to Cahirciveen and Valentia to take wireless equipment that they hoped to use to lure British warships away from the Tralee Bay area to allow the ‘Aud’ to land and discharge its cargo of guns and ammunition. Conditions were poor and, taking a wrong turn, they drove off Ballykissane Pier, Killorglin. Three of the four men were drowned – Donal Sheehan (Newcastle West), Charles Monahan (Belfast) and Cornelius “Con” Keating (Caherciveen) thus became the first casualties of the Easter Rising.
A formal State Ceremony to honour Roger Casement will take place at Banna Strand at 11.15am that same morning – 21 April.
Casement’s U-boat arrived at Tralee Bay on 20 April 1916 (Holy Thursday), but there was no sign of the ‘Aud’, which was to land the German guns. In the early hours of 21 April 1916, Casement came ashore at Banna Strand. Casement’s landing in Banna was one of the few significant events of the Easter Rising to happen outside of the capital, and it had a national and international impact. Too weak to travel, he was discovered at McKenna’s Fort and brought under guard to Tralee before being removed to Dublin and later London.
The ceremony will also feature a reading of Casement’s speech by a professional actor, an introduction to Casement the man behind the politics, and a performance by the National Folk Choir from Siamsa Tire.
The event will be attended by members of the Defence Forces, local and national political representatives, family descendants, and members of the local community. This event will be open to the public. Ballykissane Pier can accommodate a small number of people and Banna Strand will have designated public standing areas.
Ghabh Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann Sir Ruairí Mac Easmainn ar Thrá na Beannaí, áit ar tháinig sé i dtír i bhfomhuireán Gearmánach. Cuireadh i bpríosún i Sasana é ansin. Cuireadh ar a thriail é ina dhiaidh sin agus daoradh chun báis é.
Tosóidh na himeachtaí comórtha i gCiarraí an 21 Aibreán ag 8am ar Ché Bhaile Uí Chosáin.
Ar an 21 Aibreán 1916 (Aoine an Chéasta), bhí ceathrar fear ar a mbealach go Cathair Saidhbhín agus Dairbhre chun trealamh gan sreang a thógáil; bhí súil acu an trealamh a úsáid mar bhaoite bréige chun longa cogaidh Sasanacha a chur ar shiúl ó limistéar Chuan Thrá Lí ionas go mbeadh an ‘Aud’ in ann teacht i dtír agus a lastas gunnaí agus armlón a dhíluchtú. Bhí an aimsir go dona, agus thóg siad casadh mícheart, agus thiomáin siad de Ché Bhaile Uí Chíosáin, i gCill Orglan. Bádh triúr acu – Donal Sheehan (an Caisleán Nua), Charles Monahan (Béal Feirste) agus Cornelius “Con” Keating (Cathair Saidhbhín) agus iad dá réir ar na chéad daoine a fuair bás in Éirí Amach na Cásca.
Beidh Searmanas foirmiúil Stáit ar siúl ar Thrá na Beannaí ag 11.15am cothrom na maidine sin, an 21 Aibreán, chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar Ruairí Mac Easmainn.
Tháinig U-Bhád Mhic Easmainn i dtír i gCuan Thrá Lí an 20 Aibreán 1916 (Déardaoin Naofa), ach ní raibh dé ar an ‘Aud’, a bhí le gunnaí ón nGearmáin a thabhairt i dtír. Moch maidin an 21 Aibreán 1916, tháinig Casement i dtír ar Thrá na Beannaí. Bhí teacht i dtír Mhic Easmainn ar Thrá na Beannaí ar cheann den chúpla imeacht ba shuntasaí d’Éirí Amach na Cásca a tharla lasmuigh den phríomhchathair, agus bhí tionchar náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta aige. Bhí sé ró-lag le dul in aon áit, agus thángthas air i nDún Mhic Cionaoith agus tugadh faoi gharda é go Trá Lí sular tugadh chun bealaigh go Baile Átha Cliath agus go Londain é ina dhiaidh sin.
Léifidh aisteoir gairmiúil píosa as óráid Casement freisin ag an searmanas, cuirfear in aithne Casement, an duine, gan aon tagairt do chúrsaí polaitíochta, agus seinnfidh an Cór Náisiúnta Pobail ó Shiamsa Tíre.
Freastalóidh baill d’Óglaigh na hÉireann, ionadaithe polaitiúla áitiúla agus náisiúnta, daoine muinteartha na dteaghlach, agus an pobal áitiúil ar an ócáid. Beidh fáilte roimh an bpobal chuig an imeacht seo. Beidh líon beag daoine in ann dul ar Ché Bhaile Uí Chosáin agus beidh limistéir phoiblí ar Thrá na Beannaí áit a mbeidh daoine in ann seasamh.
