RCSI housed the garrison of the Irish Citizen’s Army led by Commander Michael Mallin and Countess Constance Markievicz. Despite being a focal point for the Rising, it is remarkable that the rooms occupied by the insurgents remain intact, as they were in 1916. RCSI Alumni and Fellows were also closely associated with the Easter Rising as they treated the wounded from all sides, risking their own lives in the process.
While conflict broke out at home, further afield 1086 doctors and 180 students from RCSI served in some capacity during the First World War, accounting for 50 per cent of the College population at the time.
Throughout history, periods of war and turmoil have given way to a dawn of medical advancement. The way in which wounded soldiers were cared for changed dramatically 100 years ago. New technologies, including blood transfusions, control of infection and improved surgery evolved so that although many men were permanently wounded, many were able to survive their injuries.
RCSI’s 1916 Commemorative Programme will reflect the College’s unique history of diversity, long-standing international outlook and historical leadership in surgery and medicine.
The centrepiece of the College’s commemorations is a special exhibition Surgeons and Insurgents - RCSI and the Easter Rising, and accompanying public lecture series.
Other special events for 2016 will include a 3D video mapping spectacle on Culture Night 2016, taking place on Friday, 16 September. A spectacular 3D animated light show will bring the front of RCSI's iconic building on St Stephen's Green to life, taking viewers on a journey through RCSI's history from its foundation in 1784, though the historical events of 1916, and ending with a glimpse into the future cutting-edge healthcare technology being developed by the College, as part of this visual extravaganza.
For more information, see here.
Is sa Choláiste bhí garastún de chuid Arm Cathartha na hÉireann faoi cheannas Michael Mallin agus na Cuntaoise Markievicz. Ainneoin go raibh sé ar cheann de lárphointí an Éirí Amach, is ábhar iontais é go bhfuil na seomraí a bhí i seilbh na gceannairceach fós slán, mar a bhí siad i 1916. Bhí dlúthbhaint ag Alumni agus ag Comhaltaí an Choláiste le hÉirí Amach na Cásca nó chuir siad cóir leighis ar dhaoine gortaithe ó gach taobh, ag cur a mbeatha féin i mbaol lena linn sin.
Fad is a bhí an choimhlint ag briseadh amach ag an mbaile, níos faide i gcéin rinne 1086 dochtúir agus 180 mac léinn ón gColáiste seirbhís i gcáil éigin le linn an Chéad Chogaidh Dhomhanda, arbh ionann iad agus 50 faoin gcéad de phobal an Choláiste ag an am.
Síos tríd an stair, thionscain tréimhsí cogaidh agus clampair dul chun cinn leighis. D’athraigh an chaoi a dtugtaí cúram do shaighdiúirí go mór 100 bliain ó shin. D’fhorbair teicneolaíochtaí nua, lena n-áirítear fuilaistriú, smachtú ionfhabhtaithe agus máinliacht níos fearr ionas go raibh a lán fear, cé go raibh siad gortaithe go buan, in ann maireachtáil d’ainneoin a ngortuithe.
I gClár Cuimhneacháin 1916 Choláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn léireofar stair uathúil éagsúlacht an Choláiste, an dearcadh idirnáisiúnta atá aige le fada an lá agus a cheannasaíocht sa mháinliacht agus sa leigheas.
Is é croílár chuimhneacháin an Choláiste an taispeántas speisialta Máinlianna agus Ceannaircigh – Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn agus Éirí Amach na Cásca, i dteannta na sraithe speisialta léachtaí poiblí a ghabhann leis.
I measc imeachtaí eile do 2016 beidh seó físmhapála 3T ann ar Oíche Chultúrtha 2016, a bheidh ar siúl Dé hAoine, an 16 Meán Fómhair. Sa seó solais beochana 3T iontach seo, beidh tosach fhoirgneamh aitheanta Choláiste na Máinleá in Éirinn ar Fhaiche Stiabhna beo beathach, agus tabharfar an lucht féachana ar thuras trí stair an Choláiste óna bhunú i 1784, trí imeachtaí stairiúla 1916, agus ag críochnú le léargas ar scoth-theicneolaíocht chúram sláinte na todhchaí atá á forbairt ag an gColáiste, mar chuid den ollseó físiúil seo.