100 years after the six-day rebellion that set in motion a chain of events that would change Ireland forever, our nation, together with others around the world, embarked on a commemorative journey unlike any before it.
Now, twelve months after the Ireland 2016 Centenary programme began, we look back on the past year with a renewed sense of pride in our history, heritage, and what it means to be Irish today.
Ireland 2016 has been an incredible achievement. Together, we have uncovered and explored the visions laid out by the Revolutionary Generation; we have questioned the ideals that led to the foundation of our Republic; we have debated and and discussed what it means to be Irish in a globalised world in lecture halls, classrooms and town halls across the country.
Our creative community of artists, makers and thinkers have challenged, provoked and moved us with works of enormous beauty, poignancy and urgency.
We looked to our language as one of the cornerstones of our cultural identity, celebrating the special place it maintains in our hearts and in our history.
Our communities, too, have come together to put their own unique stamp on the Centenary, and everyone - from men to women, from the old to the young, from native Irish to those for whom Ireland has become a second home - played a role in our year of commemoration and celebration.
Ambitious and inclusive, over 3,500 Centenary events took place in Ireland, with more than 1,200 of them paying tribute in locations abroad – a true testament to the determination of the Irish people and the rapport found globally among all who wish to be free.
Thank you for making our Centenary year an unforgettable one.
100 bliain i ndiaidh an éirí amach a mhair sé lá agus inar tharla sraith imeachtaí as a chéile a chuirfeadh athrú ar Éirinn go deo na ndeor, thug ár náisiún, in éineacht le daoine eile ar fud an domhain mhóir, faoi thuras cuimhneacháin nach bhfacthas a leithéid riamh cheana.
Anois, dhá mhí dhéag i ndiaidh thús Chlár Comórtha Éire 2016, féachaimid siar ar an mbliain le mórtas as an nua inár stair, inár n-oidhreacht, agus an bhrí atá le bheith inár nÉireannaigh sa lá atá inniu ann.
D’éirigh thar cionn le Éire 2016. Le chéile, nochtamar agus rinneamar iniúchadh ar na físeanna a leag an Ghlúin Réabhlóideach síos; d’fhiosraíomar na hidéil a raibh bunú ár bPoblachta mar thoradh orthu; rinneamar díospóireacht agus plé ar an mbrí atá le bheith i d’Éireannach i saol domhandaithe agus an cur is cúiteamh sin ar bun i hallaí léachtaí, i seomraí ranga agus i hallaí baile ar fud na tíre.
Thug ár bpobal cruthaitheach ealaíontóirí, déantóirí agus smaointeoirí dúshlán, ghríosaigh siad agus spreag siad muid le saothair lenar bhain áilleacht, uaigneas agus práinn mhór.
D’fhéachamar ar ár dteanga mar cheann de chlochmhílte ár bhféiniúlachta cultúrtha, ag ceiliúradh an áit speisialta atá aici inár gcroí agus inár stair.
Tháinig ár bpobail le chéile freisin chun a marc sainiúil féin a fhágáil ar an gComóradh Céad Bliain, agus bhí gach duine – idir fhir is mhná, idir shean is óg, idir mhuintir na hÉireann agus iadsan arb í Éire a mbaile anois – páirteach inár mbliain chomórtha agus cheiliúrtha.
Bhí sé uaillmhianach agus uilechuimsitheach, bhí os cionn 3,500 imeacht Comórtha ar siúl in Éirinn, agus breis is 1,200 duine ag tabhairt ómóis in áiteanna thar lear – léiriú i ndáiríre ar dhiongbháilteacht mhuintir na hÉireann agus ar an gcaidreamh atá le feiceáil ar fud an domhain ina measc siúd go léir ar mian leo saoirse a bheith acu.
Míle buíochas leat as bliain mhór an Chomórtha Céad Bliain a chomóradh inár measc, bliain nach ligfear i ndearmad go deo.