The centenary of the 1916 Rising is an opportunity to remember a decisive moment in our history and those who were involved in it, and to reflect on its background and the ideals that inspired it. It is also a time to reflect on and celebrate how Ireland has changed and progressed in the intervening century. In addition, the commemoration will prompt us to look forward. All of these elements are encapsulated in the seven strands of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme: State Ceremonial, Historical Reflection, An Teanga Bheo, Youth and Imagination, Cultural Expression, Community Participation, and Global and Diaspora.
Longford 1916 and the Aftermath
A central part of the Longford programme is the commemoration of the people from here who participated in the Easter Rising—those born in the county and those who lived here.
At present, the list is as follows: Thomas Bannon, Patrick Belton, Patrick Connaughton, Patrick Doyle, Brigid Lyons, Alfred MacHugh, John McGrath, Michael McGrath, Francis McGuinness, Joseph McGuinness, Rose McGuinness, Áine Ní Riain and Eilís Ní Riain. It is possible that others may come to light.
While most of these individuals were in Dublin prior to Easter Week, three – Francis McGuinness, his niece Brigid Lyons and Thomas Bannon – travelled from Longford on Tuesday when they heard that the Rising had begun. They were allowed into the city because McGuinness was a Justice of the Peace and produced his warrant when stopped at a cordon. A small number of others also made the journey but were not admitted. The only action taken in Longford during the week was the cutting of telegraph wires by local Volunteers.
However, the legacy of the Rising was very significant in the county. The rise of Sinn Féin in 1917 was due in part to by-election victories, one of which was in South Longford in May. Joe McGuinness, then in Lewes Gaol for his role in the Rising, was nominated as a candidate and the popular campaign slogan was ‘Put him in to get him out’. McGuinness defeated the Home Rule candidate, Patrick McKenna, in a result that shocked the establishment. The campaign was intense and involved numerous major figures in Sinn Féin including Michael Collins. McGuinness’s victory brought Longford into focus and it inspired many locals to become politically active. It is also clear from the testimony of many activists from various places that the by-election campaign helped to create friendships amongst those involved in it and that it energised the wider movement.
Longford 2016 Programme
Several events and projects will highlight the local connections from various perspectives including historical, artistic and dramatic. Overall, the programme has strong historical and cultural content, caters for all age-groups and has a county-wide reach. Its range of activities indicates the great enthusiasm of so many community groups in Longford for Ireland 2016.
Tráth atá ann, chomh maith, chun machnamh agus ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar conas a tháinig athrú ar Éirinn agus conas a rinne sí dul chun cinn i rith an chéid idir an dá linn. Ina theannta sin, spreagfaidh an comóradh sinn chun féachaint chun cinn. Tá na gnéithe uile seo cuimsithe i seacht snáithe Chlár Comórtha Céad Bliain Éire 2016: Searmanas Stáit, Machnamh ar an Stair, An Teanga Bheo, An Óige agus an tSamhlaíocht, Léiriú Cultúrtha, Rannpháirtíocht an Phobail, agus Éireannaigh ar fud an Domhain agus Diaspóra.
An Longfort i 1916 agus na hIarmhairtí
Cuid lárnach de chlár an Longfoirt is ea comóradh a dhéanamh ar na daoine ón gcontae a ghlac páirt in Éirí Amach na Cásca—iad siúd a rugadh sa chontae agus iad siúd a chónaigh anseo.
Faoi láthair, seo a leanas an liosta: Thomas Bannon, Patrick Belton, Patrick Connaughton, Patrick Doyle, Brigid Lyons, Alfred MacHugh, John McGrath, Michael McGrath, Francis McGuinness, Joseph McGuinness, Rose McGuinness, Áine Ní Riain agus Eilís Ní Riain. D’fhéadfadh go dtiocfadh daoine eile chun solais.
Cé go raibh formhór na ndaoine seo i mBaile Átha Cliath roimh Sheachtain na Cásca, thaistil triúr díobh – Francis McGuinness, a neacht, Brigid Lyons, agus Thomas Bannon – ón Longfort ar an Mháirt nuair a chuala siad go raibh an tÉirí Amach tosaithe. Tugadh cead isteach sa chathair dóibh mar gheall gur Ghiúistís Síochána a bhí in McGuinness agus sholáthair sé a bharántas nuair a stopadh é ag cordún. Thug líon beag daoine eile faoin turas chomh maith, ach níor tugadh cead isteach dóibh. Ba é an t-aon ghníomh ar tugadh faoi sa Longfort i rith na seachtaine ná gur ghearr na hÓglaigh áitiúla sreanga teileagraif.
Bhain tábhacht mhór le hoidhreacht an Éirí Amach, áfach, sa chontae. Bhí teacht i réim Shinn Féin i 1917 mar thoradh páirteach ar bhuanna sna fothoghcháin, a raibh ceann amháin díobh ar siúl sa Longfort Theas i mBealtaine. Ainmníodh Joe McGuinness, a bhí gafa i bPríosún Lewe mar gheall ar an ról a bhí aige san Éirí Amach, mar iarrthóir agus ba é an sluán a bhí i mbéal an phobail ag an tráth ná ‘Cuir isteach é go mbainfear amach é’. Bhí an bua ag McGuinness ar iarrthóir an Rialtais Dúchais, Patrick McKenna, agus bhain an toradh a bhain sé amach geit as an mbunaíocht. Bhí an feachtas dian agus bhí roinnt mhaith pearsana móra le rá ann i Sinn Féin, Mícheál Ó Coileáin ina measc. Thug bua McGuinness an Longfort chun solais agus spreag sé go leor daoine áitiúla chun páirt ghníomhach pholaitiúil a ghlacadh. Is soiléir, chomh maith, ó theistiméireacht go leor gníomhaíoch ó áiteanna éagsúla gur chabhraigh an feachtas fothoghcháin chun cairdeas a chruthú i measc na ndaoine a bhí bainteach agus chuir sé tiomáint chun cinn faoin ngluaiseacht níos fairsinge.
Clár 2016 an Longfoirt
Leagfaidh roinnt imeachtaí agus tionscadal an bhéim ar na ceangail áitiúla ó dhearcthaí éagsúla, ina measc, dearcthaí stairiúla, ealaíonta agus drámatúla. Ar an iomlán, tá ábhar tréan stairiúil agus cultúrtha sa chlár agus freastalaíonn sé ar gach aoisghrúpa agus tá aimsiú fud fad na tíre aige. Léiríonn réimse gníomhaíochtaí an chláir an díocas mór atá ar an oiread sin grúpaí pobail sa Longfort i dtaobh Éire 2016.