This pivotal period in the history of Ireland has had an enormous impact on the development of our nation and our national identity, and it is fitting that we seek to commemorate the people and events in a thoughtful, respectful and consultative manner.
The Rising in Laois
On the evening of Easter Sunday, 23rd April 1916, acting under orders from Patrick Pearse, two groups of Irish Volunteers in Laois carried out military activity as part of the planned national Rising. A section of the railway line between Abbeyleix and Portlaoise was demolished, and a section of the line near Athy was damaged. The intention of these activities was to prevent British troop reinforcements reaching Dublin via Waterford and Rosslare respectively.
During the operation at Colt Wood near Abbeyleix, shots were fired at a Railway employee who had been sent to investigate the failure of the block signal system between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix. Although the unarmed railway employee - William Dalton - was uninjured, these shots are generally claimed to be the first shots of the 1916 Rising. A train carrying railway officials and RIC Officer sent to investigate the damage the following day was derailed. Nobody was reported to have been injured.
The activity at Colt Wood was carried out by Thomas Brady, Lawrence Brady, Colum Holohan, John Muldowney, Patrick Muldowney, P.J. Ramsbottom and Michael Sheridan. The men involved in Athy were Eamon Fleming, Michael Gray, Sean Maguire and Michael Walsh. They were later assisted by Terence Byrne, Patrick Fleming and James Ramsbottom. All went into hiding after their activities and were protected for several days at the farm of the Brady Family at Lalor’s Mills near Portlaoise, while news started to slowly filter through that the planned Rising over most of the country had not taken place. While in hiding they were looked after by the Brady Sisters – Kathleen, May, Noreen and Breda. After several days on the run, the group eventually scattered when the Rising in Dublin failed. Many of the participants later went on to be active during the War of Independance and the Civil War.
The events, people and consequences of these actions are documented in Fleming & Fleming (1996), Rafter (2005) and Grae (2015). The events of 1916 in Laois are commemorated with a monument - designed by Robert Ballagh - near the site of the train derailment at Colt Wood, erected by the Laois 1916 Commemoration Committee Laois in 1996.
The Laois Commemorations in 2016
In addition to the story of local events, the effects of the Easter Rising have been felt in Laois, as elsewhere in the country, for the decades which followed the Rising, through the War of Independence and the Civil War, and through the past 100 years to today. The commemorations in 2016 will explore and reflect on the Easter Rising in Laois, including both the local events and activities, and the wider national personalities, events and impacts.
For the Centenary of the 1916 Rising, we will commemorate these local events, the people involved and the families affected, through cultural performances, publications, historical reflections and education programmes. We will also commemorate the ideals, people and events of Easter 1916 in a broader context, with a reflection on our history as a nation and our development as a people, through the full programme of events and activities described in brief here, and to be expanded in the coming months.
The Centenary Commemoration of 1916 in Laois is led by the Laois Commemorations Committee, a group comprising Elected Members of Laois County Council, the Heritage, Arts, Libraries and Tourism Departments, and community representation including Laois Heritage Society, Laois Partnership and Laois Teachers Education Centre. The plans to date have been informed by extensive public consultation and the involvement of all parts of the community remains an important aspect of our commemorations.
In addition to the wider committee, several working groups have been established to work on particular elements of the programme, including Working Groups for Education, the Irish Language and the County Memorial Garden. The Commemorations Committee will coordinate the implementation of the plan in Laois throughout the remainder of 2015 and 2016. Communities will be vital in the planning and delivery of the programme for commemoration at County level. The wider community in Laois has been involved with the development of this plan, through a call for submissions in March 2015, and public workshops held in May 2015.
Many of the submissions received and contributions to the workshops outlined what communities across Laois were already planning for the commemoration of 1916, and also what individuals and groups believe should happen at county level and more widely. All submissions have been carefully considered and are reflected in this programme.
A community grant scheme was launched in at the community workshops in May 2015. Details of community projects approved for funding under this scheme are included in the relevant sections of this programme. Community Grants to date have been allocated for projects taking place in 2015, either as standalone projects, or in preparation for events and projects to take place in 2016. A further call for submissions for funding of 2016 projects will be launched in autumn 2015.
Our plans for the commemoration of 1916 in Laois will follow the seven strands of the national commemoration, with projects and events presented here under each of the seven strands: Ceremonial, Historical Reflection, the Irish language programme an Teanga Bheo, Youth and Imagination, Cultural Expression, Community Participation, and Global and Diaspora.
Our programme of engagement will start in 2015 with a period of reflection on the people and events of 1916 both at national and local level, and with projects to encourage public debate on the topics and themes of the commemoration. Projects and events to take place in 2016 will also be planned and organised throughout 2015.
Some projects will be delivered at County level, through the Laois Commemoration Committee. Others will be community projects, delivered at local level by community groups of various types. These will be supported through the Community Grants Scheme for 2015 and 2016.
A digital calendar of events for 2015 and 2016 will be produced, which will be added to and modified as plans for 2016 are firmed up over the coming months. This will allow groups making plans for the commemoration of 1916 throughout the remainder of this year and into next year, to plan and organise their events while taking note of other events planned for the county.
It will be important that in our commemorations there is a respect for all traditions, and an opportunity to honour all of those who have brought freedom and peace to our nation, and to fulfil the promise of the Proclamation through “cherishing all of the children of the nation equally”.
Communications with the community in Laois and further afield will be vital throughout this programme. A new website – www.laois2016.ie – will contain all details of the programme, with links to the national programme. This will be promoted and supported through social media and traditional print and broadcast media.
A Facebook page, www.facebook.com/laois2016 and Twitter account, @laois2016 have been set up and will carry news and updates on the programme in County Laois, as well as assisting with promotion of the national programme at local level.
A key measure of the success of the programme of commemorations in Laois will be level of community engagement with the programme. Our emphasis will be on delivering high quality projects which accurately reflect the aims of the programme and which engage members of the public.
Bhí tionchar ollmhór ag an tréimhse ríthábhachtach seo i stair na hÉireann ar fhorbairt ár náisiúin agus ár n-aitheantais náisiúnta, agus is cóir go ndéanfaimid comóradh ar na daoine agus ar na himeachtaí ar bhealach machnamhach, measúil agus comhairleach.
An tÉirí Amach i Laois
Ar thráthnóna Domhnach Cásca, an 23 Aibreán 1916, ag feidhmiú ar orduithe ó Phádraig Mac Piarais, rinne dhá ghrúpa d’Óglaigh na hÉireann i Laois gníomhaíocht mhíleata mar chuid den Éirí Amach pleanáilte náisiúnta. Scriosadh cuid den líne iarnróid idir Mainistir Laoise agus Port Laoise, agus rinneadh damáiste do chuid den líne in aice le Baile Átha Í. Is é a bhí i gceist leis na gníomhaíochtaí seo atreisithe trúpaí na Breataine a chosc ó dhul chomh fada le Baile Átha Cliath trí Phort Láirge agus Ros Láir faoi seach.
I rith na hoibríochta ag Colt Wood in aice le Mainistir Laoise, caitheadh piléir le fostaí Iarnróid a cuireadh amach chun teip ar an gcóras comhartha bloic idir Port Laoise agus Mainistir Laoise a fhiosrú. Cé nár gortaíodh an fostaí iarnróid William Dalton nach raibh faoi airm, deirtear gurbh iad sin na chéad philéir a caitheadh in Éirí Amach 1916. Cuireadh traein de na ráillí an lá ina dhiaidh sin ar a raibh oifigigh iarnróid agus Oifigigh RIC a cuireadh amach chun an damáiste a fhiosrú. Níor tuairiscíodh gur gortaíodh duine ar bith.
Rinne Thomas Brady, Lawrence Brady, Colum Holohan, John Muldowney, Patrick Muldowney, P.J. Rambsbottom agus Michael Sheridan an ghníomhaíocht ag Colt Wood. Ba iad na fir a bhí páirteach i mBaile Átha Í, Eamon Fleming, Michael Gray, Sean Maguire agus Michael Walsh. Chuidigh Terence Byrne, Patrick Fleming agus James Ramsbottom leo níos déanaí. Chuaigh siad ar fad i bhfolach tar éis a ngníomhaíochtaí agus cosnaíodh iad ar feadh roinnt laethanta ar fheirm Mhuintir Brady ag Lalor’s Mills in aice le Port Laoise, agus thosaigh nuacht ag teacht chun cinn nár tharla an tÉirí Amach a bhí pleanáilte i bhformhór na tíre. Fad is a bhí said i bhfolach, thug deirfiúracha Brady – Kathleen, May, Noreen agus Breda – aire dóibh. Tar éis roinnt laethanta ag rith, scaip an grúpa faoi dheireadh nuair a theip ar an Éirí Amach i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhí go leor de na rannpháirtithe gníomhach le linn Chogadh na Saoire agus an Chogaidh Chathartha ina dhiaidh sin.
Déantar cur síos ar na himeachtaí, na daoine agus iarmhairtí na ngníomhaíochtaí seo in Fleming and Fleming (1996), Rafter (2005) agus Grae (2015). Déantar comóradh ar imeachtaí 1916 i Laois le séadchomhartha – a dhear Robert Ballagh – in aice leis an suíomh inar cuireadh an traein de na ráillí ag Colt Wood, a chuir Coiste Comórtha Laoise 1916 in airde I 1996.
Na Cuimhneacháin i Laois i 2016
Mar aon le scéal na n-imeachtaí áitiúla, airíodh tionchair Éirí Amach na Cásca i Laois, mar a airíodh iad in áiteanna eile sa tír, sna blianta tar éis an Éirí Amach, trí Chogadh na Saoirse agus an Cogadh Cathartha, agus tríd an 100 bliain seo caite go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Fiosróidh agus breathnóidh an comóradh in 2016 siar ar thionchar an Éirí Amach i Laois, lena n-áirítear imeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí áitiúla agus na pearsantachtaí, imeachtaí agus tionchair náisiúnta níos leithne.
Do Chomóradh Céad Bliain Éirí Amach 1916, déanfaimid comóradh ar na himeachtaí áitiúla seo, na daoine a bhí páirteach agus na teaghlaigh a raibh tionchar orthu, trí thaibhithe cultúrtha, foilseacháin, machnamh ar an stair agus cláir oideachais. Déanfaimid comóradh chomh maith ar idéil, ar dhaoine agus ar imeachtaí na Cásca 1916 i gcomhthéacs níos leithne, le machnamh ar ár náisiún agus ar ár bhforbairt mar dhaoine, trí chlár iomlán imeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí a ndéantar cur síos orthu anseo, agus le míniú sna míonna atá le teacht.
Tá Comóradh Céad Bliain 1916 i Laois á stiúradh ag Coiste Comórtha Laoise, grúpa ina bhfuil Comhaltaí Tofa Chomhairle Contae Laoise, na Ranna Oidhreachta, Ealaíon, Leabharlann agus Turasóireachta, agus ionadaíocht phobail lena n-áirítear Cumann Oidhreachta Laoise, Comhpháirtíocht Laoise agus Ionad Oideachais Múinteoirí Laoise. Go dtí seo, rinneadh comhairliúchán poiblí fairsing chun na pleananna a chur i dtoll a chéile agus tá rannpháirtíocht gach cuid den phobal fós ina gné thábhachtach dár gcomóradh.
Mar aon leis an gcoiste níos leithne, bunaíodh roinnt grúpaí oibre le hoibriú ar ghnéithe áirithe den chlár, lena n-áirítear Grúpaí Oibre don Oideachas, don Ghaeilge agus Gairdín Cuimhneacháin an Chontae. Déanfaidh an Coiste Comórtha comhordú le forfheidhmiú an phlean i Laois sa chuid eile de 2015 agus in 2016.
Beidh pobail lárnach i bpleanáil agus I seachadadh an chláir chun comóradh a dhéanamh ag leibhéal an Chontae. Bhí an pobal níos leithne i Laois páirteach i bhforbairt an phlean seo, tríd an ngairm ar aighneachtaí i mí an Mhárta 2015, agus ceardlanna poiblí a reáchtáladh i mí na Bealtaine 2015.
Leagadh amach in go leor de na haighneachtaí agus na tuairimí sna ceardlanna na rudaí a bhí á bpleanáil ag pobail ar fud Laoise cheana féin chun 1916 a chomóradh, agus na rudaí a chreideann daoine agus grúpaí is ceart a dhéanamh ag leibhéal an chontae agus leibhéal níos ginearálta don chomóradh. Rinneadh breithniú cúramach ar gach aighneacht agus léirítear iad sa chlár seo.
Seoladh scéim deontas pobail ag na ceardlanna pobail i mí na Bealtaine 2015. Áirítear sonraí ar thionscadail phobail a faomhadh le haghaidh maoiniú sna codanna ábhartha den chlár seo. Leithdháileadh Deontais Phobail go dtí seo do thionscadail a tharlóidh in 2015, mar thionscadail astu féin, nó mar réiteach d’imeachtaí agus do thionscadail a bheidh ag tarlú in 2016. I bhfómhar 2015 seolfar gairm eile ar iarratais ar mhaoiniú do thionscadail na bliana 2016.
Leanfaidh ár bpleananna do chomóradh 1916 i Laois seacht snáithe an chomóraidh náisiúnta, le tionscadail agus imeachtaí a chuirtear i láthair anseo faoi gach ceann de na seacht snáithe: Searmanais Stáit, Machnamh ar an Stair, An Teanga Bheo, an Óige agus an tSamhlaíocht, Léiriú Cultúrtha, Rannpháirtíocht Phobail agus Éireannaigh ar fud an Domhain agus Diaspóra.
Tosóidh ár gclár rannpháirtíochta in 2015 le tréimhse mhachnaimh ar dhaoine agus ar imeachtaí 1916 ag leibhéal náisiúnta agus áitiúil araon, agus le tionscadail le díospóireacht phoiblí a spreagadh ar ábhair agus ar théamaí an chomóraidh. Déanfar tionscadail agus imeachtaí a tharlóidh in 2016 a phleanáil agus a eagrú i rith 2015.
Seachadfar roinnt tionscadal ag leibhéal Contae, trí Choiste Comórtha Laoise. Tionscadail phobail a bheidh i gcuid eile díobh, a sheachadfaidh grúpaí pobail de chineálacha éagsúla ag leibhéal áitiúil. Tacófar leo seo tríd an Scéim Deontas Pobail do 2015 agus 2016.
Cuirfear féilire digiteach imeachtaí do 2015 agus 2016 ar fáil agus cuirfear leis agus athrófar é sna míonna atá romhainn. Ceadóidh sé seo do ghrúpaí a bhfuil pleananna á ndéanamh acu do chomóradh 1916 sa chuid eile den bhliain agus an bhliain seo chugainn, a n-imeachtaí a phleanáil agus a eagrú fad is a chuireann siad imeachtaí eile sa chontae san áireamh.
Beidh sé tábhachtach go mbeadh meas ar gach traidisiún inár gcomóradh, agus go mbeadh deis meas a léiriú orthu siúd ar fad a thug saoirse agus síocháin chuig ár náisiún, agus chun rún an Fhorógra a chomhlíonadh trí “chomhchúram a dhéanamh do chlann uile an náisiúin”.
Beidh cumarsáidí leis an bpobal i Laois agus níos faide ó bhaile ríthábhachtach ar fud an chláir seo. Beidh sonraí ar fad an chláir ar shuíomh gréasáin nua – www.laois2016.ie – ar a mbeidh naisc leis an gclár náisiúnta. Cuirfear é seo chun cinn agus tacófar leis trí na meáin shóisialta agus na meáin thraidisiúnta chlóite agus chraolta.
Tá leathanach Facebook, www.facebook.com/laois2016, agus cuntas Twitter, @laois2016, bunaithe againn ar a mbeidh nuacht agus nuashonruithe ar an gclár i gContae Laoise, mar aon le cuidiú le cur chun cinn an chláir náisiúnta ag leibhéal áitiúil.
Tomhas tábhachtach de rath an chláir comórtha i Laois is ea an leibhéal rannpháirtíochta pobail leis an gclár. Beidh ár mbéim ar thionscadail ardchaighdeáin a sheachadadh a léireoidh go beacht aidhmeanna an chláir agus a bheidh rannpháirteach le baill an phobail.