This pleasant visit was interrupted by a stranger, who with much difficulty had located Ó Duibhir in order to deliver a sealed note from Dublin. The stranger was Thomas MacDonagh’s brother, John, and the note was from PH Pearse, telling Ó Duibhir, in code, that the Rising was set for 2 o’clock a few days hence, Easter Sunday.
Ó Duibhir rushed back home to Ballagh and that evening set off again on his bicycle to the home of Pierce McCan at Ballyowen in Dualla near Cashel. On hearing the news, McCan ‘was a bit put out about it’ was how Ó Duibhir remembered the reaction decades later. McCan, leader of the Irish Volunteers in the county was out of the loop about the Rising because he was not a member of the IRB (the inheritors of the Fenian tradition) and the projected Rising was an IRB enterprise. Apparently, for this reason, Pearse had wanted him removed but Ó Duibhir argued against this. Eamon Ó Duibhir was the key figure in the IRB in Tipperary, hence Pearse’s communication with him.
Within the IRB, members even kept secrets from each other. Therefore its secretive nature made its relationship with the Volunteers complicated and liable to mis–communication. On Saturday, The O’Rahilly arrived with a message from Eoin MacNeill that the Rising was off. The sinking of the Aud, the arrest of Casement and the non–arrival of arms from Germany had a dramatic impact on plans, not to mention MacNeill discovering that he was being manipulated. According to Ó Duibhir, ‘the general plan (had been) to rush the constabulary barracks and to guard all roads by which the arms from Kerry would be borne eastwards.’ Once the Rising went ahead in Dublin on Easter Monday, news was at a premium. The rail network was a vital artery of communication as long as trains ran. ‘During Easter Week I used to haunt Nenagh stations,’ wrote Fr Pat Gaynor, ‘to hear the latest news.’ Eamon Ó Duibhir heard about the Rising in Dublin on Easter Monday evening from Con Deere of Goold’s Cross.
There was not a lot a handful of men could do. Sometime after midnight on Easter Monday night/ Tuesday morning, Sean Treacy arrived from Tipperary, no wiser about what was happening. On Wednesday, Ó Duibhir went to confer with McCan at Dualla and finding Eoin MacNeill’s son Brian with him. It was decided to engage the enemy if there could be co–ordination with Volunteers in Limerick and Cork. As ever, communication was the problem. It was decided while Ó Duibhir would attempt to make contact with Limerick, Treacy would co–ordinate with Cork. Ó Duibhir eventually got to Limerick city by way of Milestone and Newport, a tough journey that yielded nothing. By Friday, it was obvious that there would be no Rising in Munster and on Saturday, Eamon Ó Duibhir was arrested while trying to make his way to Dublin.
Volunteers in mid–west Tipperary had ties to the so–called Galtee Battalion organised across the Tipperary–Limerick border. Edmund O’Brien, a member of that battalion was, like every other activist, frantic for information and grasped at any and every rumour, including that the Volunteers were winning in Dublin, although how that could be remained unclear. However, what was real was Sean Treacy’s arrival in Galbally on Wednesday evening. On Thursday there was some activity. Telegraph wires were cut but RIC barracks remained unattacked. After getting as far as Mitchelstown, at which point it was clear nothing was going to happen in Cork, Treacy returned home.
The only loss of life in Tipperary during that week happened just outside Tipperary town, when on Wednesday morning of Easter Week two members of the RIC were shot dead.
The previous evening twenty–nine year old Michael O’Callaghan, creamery worker and trade union activist and a man very involved in a range of Irish–Ireland organisations, was taunted by a crowd whose fathers, brothers and sons were in the British army. Unpleasant things were said about Sinn Féin. O’Callaghan drew a gun, fired a shot and wounded a fifteen year old boy. Something of an inept siege by the RIC followed at O’Callaghan’s home in O’Brien Street and by Wednesday morning, he had fled. Later that morning an encounter at a house near Kilross, between O’Callaghan and Sergeant O’Rourke and Constable Hurley, stationed in Aherlow, resulted in both RIC men being shot dead. Hidden by supporters for several weeks, the IRB eventually smuggled O’Callaghan to the United States.
Meanwhile in Clonmel, thirty–seven year old coachbuilder Frank Drohan, Gaelic League activist and head of the IRB in the district had been busy with his colleagues, around fifty in number, collecting arms for the expected rising. On Easter Saturday word was received from Con Deere that it was ‘go’ for the following day. On Easter Sunday morning the men gathered in Drohan’s coach yard and in so far as there was a plan it was to join with some Fethard Volunteers and attack and hopefully capture Lisronagh RIC barracks before moving towards Cashel to link up with McCan and his men. However, a message arrived from McCan that the rising was off. Late on Monday, through the railway grapevine, they got news about Dublin and, living on rumours, nothing happened until Thursday when still responding to rumour Drohan and some Clonmel Volunteers went, armed, into the countryside in search of rebel activity and found none. A messenger was sent to Cork city to contact MacCurtain or MacSwiney for news of activity there. There was none. On Sunday came news of Pearse’s surrender. After this it was a matter of hiding arms and waiting for arrest, which for Drohan came early on Tuesday.
It was a fortnight since that message had arrived from Pearse for Ó Duibhir, probably the most memorable two weeks in the lives of those involved in these events that were outside their control. For Ó Duibhir, Drohan, McCan and others caught up in the Easter maelstrom (more a whirlwind in parts of Tipperary but an uneventful calm elsewhere in the county), arrest and deportation followed. Of twenty one men from the county that spent the following months in the internment camp at Frongoch in Wales, seven were from Clonmel (including Frank Drohan), five from Tipperary town and four from Goold’s Cross/Dundrum, all of which reasonably represent local activism. Eamon Ó Duibhir spent most of the rest of 1916 in Reading Prison, whereas Pearse McCan was at Knutsford.
Before and After
Facing into 1916 in Tipperary as elsewhere in Ireland, the big political issue was Home Rule, about which two things mattered: its implementation was suspended until war’s end and Ulster unionists were increasingly determined not to participate. Day to day, the big issue was the War and recruitment. Perhaps as many as 5,000 men from the county enlisted, the majority of whom volunteered before April 1916. It was about choices. In a Tipperary newspaper of 26 April, two stories appear side by side: the death of Private Patrick O’Meara of Clonmel in France and the shooting incident in which Michael O’Callaghan killed two policemen: two Tipperarymen had made very different choices.
After the Rising, public bodies in Tipperary supportive of John Redmond had to come to terms with what happened and had to deal with a Home Rule policy that now had partition attached. For example, at a meeting of Clonmel Board of Guardians on 7 June members, while deploring the Rising, wanted immediate Home Rule for all Ireland and at the same time found it necessary to assert their loyalty to Mr Redmond and the Party. At the AGM of the North Tipperary executive of the United Irish League (UIL) in Nenagh on 27 July, speakers looked to the past, a perspective they found comforting. The UIL was the political ‘machine’ of the Home Rule party and speakers found it necessary to validate the past and revisit the glory days of old battles. Tom Dawson, Tipperary town clerk and president of the County Tipperary Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) appealed to members at a gathering in Thurles on 12 October ‘to close up the ranks and make a united stand against the common enemy.’ The problem for the AOH, a Roman Catholic organisation more supportive of Redmond and the Parliamentary Party than the UIL, was that it was increasingly confusing who exactly the ‘common enemy’ was.
With much of the local republican leadership locked up, their structures in disarray and morale fragile, two support organisations were founded, one of which, the Irish National Aid Association (INAA) gained widespread approval. Branches were established in most parishes and collections were organised for ‘victims’ of the Rising. The press notice launching the Nenagh branch on 6 June declared that the issue was not the ‘propriety’ of the Rising, but there could be no doubt where the INAA stood. ‘Shall it then be said that the People of Nenagh saw unmoved these Tribulations of their countrymen?’ Subscription lists published in the local press indicate how successfully money was raised, for example a very impressive £120 from Cashel and Rosegreen. But the propaganda value was more important. The cause for which some men died and others were now locked up was kept before the people.
In January 1917 the RIC county inspector looked back on how North Tipperary fared over the year and noted that all was satisfactory except for Thurles where ‘there was a strong undercurrent of disloyalty ... worked up by the notorious Pierce McCan and Edmund O’Dwyer.’ His opposite number in Clonmel was equally sanguine. Support for the rebels was localised. Cahir was especially peaceful. The large number of ‘ardent spirits’ in Clonmel fortunately had not come into conflict with the forces of the Crown. Then claiming that fear of conscription was at the root of rebel support, the county inspector happily noted that conscription was no longer an issue.
Dr Denis G. Marnane Articles about Tipperary in 1916 by D.G. Marnane and Sean Hogan will be published in Tipperary Historical Journal in April 2016.
Background
2016 will see the Easter Rising commemorated and reflected on nationally and internationally. Tipperary will play its part in this countrywide commemoration and this plan sets out the programme of events currently in place for next year. Mobilisations did occur in the county and a number of people from or with connections to Tipperary were involved in the Rising. One of the seven signatories of the Proclamation and leaders of the Rising, Thomas MacDonagh, was a native of Cloughjordan. In the next year we aim to commemorate Thomas MacDonagh and others from the county who were involved in the events of 1916, we will reflect on life in 1916 for the people of Tipperary and we will reflect on the event that was pivotal in the history of our country.
The Commemoration of 1916 Rising in the county is being led by a steering group made up of the Heritage, Arts, Museum, Libraries and Local studies departments of the council and supported by a sub– committee of elected members.
The Plan to date has been informed by extensive public consultation, including a public call for submissions in the local press in March and three community workshops in Nenagh, Thurles and Clonmel.
The role of the community is central in the programme and the 2016 Co–ordinator and members of the steering group will continue to work with community groups throughout the year to oversee the implementation of the plan.
Chuir strainséir isteach ar an gcuairt dheas seo, strainséir a bhí tar éis go leor anró a chur air féin chun Ó Duibhir a aimsiú d’fhonn nóta séalaithe as Baile Átha Cliath a sheachadadh. Deartháir le Tomás Mac Donnchadha, John, a bhí ann, agus ba é Pádraig Mac Piarais a sheol an nóta, ag rá le hÓ Duibhir, i gcód, go raibh an tÉirí Amach le tarlú ag a dó a chlog cúpla lá ina diaidh sin, Domhnach Cásca.
Rinne Ó Duibhir deifir abhaile go dtí an Bealach agus an tráthnóna sin d’imigh sé arís ar a rothar chuig teach Pierce McCan ag Baile Eoghain i nDumha Aille in aice le Caiseal. ‘Chuir an nuacht isteach beagán’ ar McCan, mar a rinne Ó Duibhir cur síos ar a fhreagairt cúpla scór bliain ina dhiaidh sin. Níor coinníodh McCan, ceannaire Óglaigh na hÉireann sa chontae, ar an eolas faoin Éirí Amach mar nach raibh sé ina bhall den IRB (an dream a choinnigh traidisiún na bhFíníní) agus ba iad an IRB a bhí ag tabhairt faoin Éirí Amach. Is cosúil, ar an gcúis sin, gur theastaigh ó Mhac Piarais go bhfaighfí réidh leis, ach throid Ó Duibhir ina choinne seo. Bhí Éamon Ó Duibhir lárnach san IRB i dTiobraid Árann, agus b’in an chúis a ndearna Mac Piarais teagmháil leis
Laistigh den IRB, choinnigh baill rúin óna chéile fiú. Mar gheall ar chomh rúnda is a bhí sé, bhí a chaidreamh leis na hÓglaigh an–chasta agus bhíodh míchumarsáid ann go minic. Dé Sathairn, tháinig an Rathaileach le teachtaireacht ó Eoin Mac Néill ag rá go raibh an tÉirí Amach curtha ar ceal. Bhí tionchar mór ar na pleananna ag bá an Aud, gabháil Mhic Easmainn agus de bhrí nár tháinig airm ón nGearmáin, gan trácht ar Mhac Néill ag fáil amach go raibh mí–ionramháil á déanamh air. Dar le hÓ Duibhir, ba é ‘an plean ginearálta ionsaí a dhéanamh ar bheairic chonstáblachta agus na bóithre a chosaint trína dtiocfadh na hairm aniar ó Chiarraí.’ Nuair a chuaigh an tÉirí Amach ar aghaidh i mBaile Átha Cliath ar Luan Cásca, bhí sé deacair nuacht a fháil. Conair ríthábhachtach chumarsáide ba ea an líonra iarnróid chomh fada is a rith traenacha. ‘I rith Sheachtain na Cásca bhínn ag meilt ama ag stáisiún an Aonaigh,’ a scríobh an tAthair Pat Gaynor, ‘chun an nuacht is déanaí a chloisteáil.’ Chuala Éamon Ó Duibhir faoin Éirí Amach i mBaile Átha Cliath tráthnóna Luan Cásca ó Con Deere as Crois an Ghúlaigh.
Ní raibh mórán a d’fhéadfadh buíon beag fear a dhéanamh. Uair éigin tar éis an mheáin oíche ar oíche Luan Cásca/maidin Dé Máirt, tháinig Sean Treacy as Tiobraid Árann, gan aon eolas aige faoin méid a bhí ag tarlú. Dé Céadaoin, chuaigh Ó Duibhir le labhairt le McCan ag Dumha Aille, áit a raibh mac Eoin Mhic Néill, Brian, in éindí leis. Rinneadh cinneadh dul i ngleic leis an namhaid dá bhféadfaí comhordú a dhéanamh leis na hÓglaigh i Luimneach agus i gCorcaigh. Mar ba ghnách, ba í an chumarsáid an fhadhb. Rinneadh cinneadh go ndéanfadh Treacy comhordú le Corcaigh, fad a dhéanfadh Ó Duibhir iarracht teagmháil a dhéanamh le Luimneach. Shroich Ó Duibhir cathair Luimnigh ar deireadh trí Chloch an Mhíle agus an Port Nua, turas deacair nár bhain aon ní amach. Faoin Aoine, ba léir nach mbeadh aon Éirí Amach sa Mhumhain agus Dé Sathairn, gabhadh Éamon Ó Duibhir agus a bhealach á dhéanamh aige go Baile Átha Cliath.
Bhí naisc ag óglaigh in iarthar láir Thiobraid Árann le Cathlán na nGaibhlte, mar a tugadh orthu, a bhí eagraithe thar theorainn Thiobraid Árann–Luimnigh. Bhí Edmund O’Brien, ball den chathlán sin, cosúil le gach gníomhaí eile, trína chéile ag lorg faisnéise agus ghlac sé le haon ráfla a chuala sé, lena n–áirítear go raibh na hÓglaigh ag buachan i mBaile Átha Cliath, cé nach raibh a fhios cén chaoi a bhféadfadh sé sin tarlú. Ach b’fhíor gur shroich Sean Treacy an Gallbhaile tráthnóna Dé Céadaoin. Bhí roinnt gníomhaíochta ann Déardaoin. Gearradh línte teileagraif ach níor ionsaíodh beairicí RIC. Tar éis dul chomh fada le Baile Mhistéala, áit a raibh sé soiléir nach raibh aon ní le tarlú i gCorcaigh, d’fhill Treacy ar an mbaile.
Tharla an t–aon chaillteanas beatha i dTiobraid Árann i rith na seachtaine sin díreach taobh amuigh de bhaile Thiobraid Árann, nuair a lámhachadh beirt bhall den RIC maidin Dé Céadaoin de Sheachtain na Cásca.
An tráthnóna roimhe sin, bhí slua a raibh a n–aithreacha, a ndeartháireacha agus a mic in arm na Breataine ag spochadh as Michael O’Callaghan, naoi mbliana fichead, oibrí uachtarlainne, gníomhaí ceardchumainn agus fear a bhí páirteach i raon eagraíochtaí Gaelacha–Éireannacha. Dúradh rudaí gránna faoi Shinn Féin. Tharraing O’Callaghan amach gunna, chaith sé urchar agus ghortaigh sé buachaill cúig bliana déag d’aois. Rinne an RIC drochionsaí ina dhiaidh sin ar theach O’Callaghan i Sráid Uí Bhriain agus faoi mhaidin Dé Céadaoin, bhí sé imithe. Níos déanaí an mhaidin sin, mar gheall ar eachtra a tharla ag teach in aice le Cill Ros idir O’Callaghan agus an Sáirsint O’Rourke agus an Constábla Hurley, suite in Eatharlach, lámhachadh agus maraíodh an bheirt fhear RIC. Cheil tacadóirí O’Callaghan é ar feadh roinnt seachtainí, agus ar deireadh smuigleáil an IRB chuig na Stáit Aontaithe é.
Ag an am céanna i gCluain Meala, bhí an tógálaí cóiste Frank Drohan, a bhí 37 mbliana d’aois, agus a bhí ina ghníomhaí le Conradh na Gaeilge agus ina cheannaire ar an IRB ina cheantar, gnóthach lena chomhghleacaithe, timpeall caoga díobh, ag bailiú arm don éirí amach a rabhthas ag súil leis. Satharn Cásca, fuarthas scéala ó Con Deere go raibh sé le tarlú an lá dár gcionn. Domhnach Cásca, bhailigh na fir i gclós cóiste Drohan agus sa mhéid is go raibh plean ann, bhí sé i gceist acu bualadh le roinnt Óglach as Fiodh Ard agus ionsaí a dhéanamh ar bheairic RIC Lios Ruanach agus í a ghabháil sula mbogfaidís ar aghaidh go Caiseal le bualadh le McCan agus a chuid fear. Ach tháinig teachtaireacht ó McCan ag rá go raibh an tÉirí Amach ar ceal. Go deireanach Dé Luain, tríd an ngréasán iarnróid, fuair siad nuacht faoi Bhaile Átha Cliath agus, fad is a bhí siad ag brath ar ráflaí, níor tharla aon ní go dtí Déardaoin nuair a bhí Drohan ag freagairt do ráflaí agus d’imigh roinnt d’Óglaigh Chluain Meala, faoi airm, amach faoin tír ag cuardach gníomhaíocht reibiliúnach, ach ní bhfuair siad aon ní. Cuireadh teachtaire go cathair Chorcaí le teagmháil a dhéanamh le MacCurtain nó MacSwiney chun nuacht a fháil ar ghníomhaíocht ansin. Ní raibh aon ní ag tarlú. Dé Domhnaigh, fuarthas scéal gur ghéill Mac Piarais. Ina dhiaidh sin, b’éigean dóibh airm a cur i bhfolach agus fanacht go ngabhfaí iad. Gabhadh Drohan luath Dé Máirt.
Bhí coicís caite ó tháinig an teachtaireacht sin ó Mhac Piarais go hÓ Duibhir, an choicís ba shuntasaí i saol na ndaoine a bhí páirteach sna himeachtaí sin nach raibh aon smacht acu orthu. I gcás Uí Dhuibhir, Drohan, McCan agus daoine eile a bhí páirteach i ruaille buaille na Cásca (cuaifeach i gcodanna de Thiobraid Árann ach ciúin in áiteanna eile sa chontae), gabhadh agus díbríodh iad. Den 21 fear ón gcontae sin a chaith na míonna ina dhiaidh sin i gcampa géibhinn in Frongoch sa Bhreatain Bheag, ba as Cluain Meala seachtair díobh (Frank Drohan san áireamh), ba as baile Thiobraid Árann cúigear díobh agus ba as Crois an Ghúlaigh/ Dún Droma ceathrar díobh, agus léiríonn siad ar fad an ghníomhaíocht áitiúil. Chaith Éamonn Ó Duibhir an chuid is mó de 1916 i bPríosún Reading, agus bhí Pearsa McCan in Knutsford.
Roimh Ré agus ina Dhiaidh
Roimh 1916 i dTiobraid Árann mar aon le háiteanna eile in Éirinn, ba é Rialtas Dúchais an cheist mhór pholaitíochta, lenar bhain dhá rud: cuireadh a fhorfheidhmiú ar ceal go dtí deireadh an chogaidh agus bhí aontachtaithe Uladh ag diúltú a bheith páirteach ann. Ba í an cheist ba mhó a bhí ag cur isteach ar dhaoine ó lá go lá ná an Cogadh agus earcú. B’fhéidir gur liostáil suas le 5,000 fear ón gcontae, an chuid is mó acu roimh Aibreán 1916. Ba cheist roghanna a bhí ann. I nuachtán Thiobraid Árann an 26 Aibreán, cuireadh dhá scéal i gcló taobh le taobh: bás an tSaighdiúra Singil Patrick O’Meara as Cluain Meala sa Fhrainc agus eachtra lámhaigh inar mharaigh Michael O’Callaghan beirt phóilíní: rinne beirt fhear as Tiobraid Árann dhá rogha an–éagsúil.
Tar éis an Éirí Amach, b’éigean do chomhlachtaí poiblí i dTiobraid Árann a thacaigh le John Redmond dul i ngleic leis an méid a tharla agus dul i ngleic le beartas Rialtas Dúchais a raibh deighilt anois ag baint leis. Mar shampla, ag cruinniú de chuid chomhaltaí Bhord Bardachta Chluain Meala an 7 Meitheamh, cé go raibh náire orthu faoin Éirí Amach, theastaigh Rialtas Dúchais láithreach uathu d’Éirinn ar fad agus ag an am céanna cheap siad go raibh gá a ndílseacht don Uasal Redmond agus dá Pháirtí a léiriú. Ag an gCruinniú Cinn Bhliana d’fheidhmeannas Thiobraid Árann Thuaidh de Léig na nÉireannach Aontaithe (UIL) san Aonach an 27 Iúil, chaith na cainteoirí súil siar ar an am a bhí thart, léargas a thug sólás dóibh. Ba iad UIL ‘meaisín’ polaitiúil pháirtí an Rialtais Dhúchais agus mheas cainteoirí gurbh éigean an t–am a bhí thart a bhailíochtú agus féachaint siar ar laethanta glórmhara seanchathanna. D’impigh Tom Dawson, cléireach baile Thiobraid Árann agus uachtarán Bhord Chontae Thiobraid Árann d’Ord Ársa na nIbeirneach (AOH), ar chomhaltaí ag cruinniú i nDurlas an 12 Deireadh Fómhair chun ‘an fód a sheasamh le chéile agus seasamh aontaithe a ghlacadh in aghaidh an namhad choitinn.’ Ba í an fhadhb a bhí ann do AOH, eagraíocht Chaitliceach Rómhánach a thug níos mó tacaíochta do Redmond agus don Pháirtí Parlaiminte ná UIL, go raibh sé ag éirí níos casta an ‘namhaid coitinn’ a aithint.
Agus mórán den cheannaireacht phoblachtach áitiúil faoi ghlas, a struchtúir trína chéile agus a meanma lag, bunaíodh dhá eagraíocht tacaíochta, agus fuair ceann amháin díobh, Cumann Náisiúnta Cúnaimh na hÉireann (INAA) faomhadh forleathan. Bunaíodh brainsí i bhformhór na bparóistí agus eagraíodh bailiúcháin ‘d’íospartaigh’ an Éirí Amach. Dearbhaíodh san fhógra preasa a sheol brainse an Aonaigh an 6 Meitheamh nárbh í ‘cirte’ an Éirí Amach a bhí á ceistiú, ach nach bhféadfadh aon amhras a bheith ann faoi sheasamh an INAA. ‘An mbeidh sé le rá nach raibh aon tionchar ag Crá mhuintir a dtíre ar Mhuintir an Aonaigh?’ Léirigh liostaí síntiús a foilsíodh sa phreas áitiúil an méid airgid a bailíodh, mar shampla suim mhór £120 ó Chaiseal agus Faiche Ró. Ach bhí an luach bolscaireachta níos tábhachtaí. Coinníodh an chúis gur cailleadh roinnt fear agus go raibh fir eile sa phríosún anois i mbéal an phobail.
Mí Eanáir 1917, d’fhéach cigire contae RIC siar ar an gcaoi ar éirigh le Tiobraid Árann Thuaidh le bliain anuas agus thug sé faoi deara go raibh sé ar fad sásúil seachas Durlas, áit a raibh ‘foshruth láidir mídhílseachta ... a chothaigh Pierce McCan agus Edmund O’Dwyer míchlúiteach.’ Bhí a chomhghleacaí i gCluain Meala chomh haigeantach céanna. Bhí tacaíocht do na reibiliúnaithe áitiúil. Bhí an Chathair an–síochánta go deo. Níor tháinig an líon mór ‘spioraid dhíograiseacha’ i gCluain Meala i gcoimhlint le fórsaí na Corónach. Dúirt an cigire contae ansin go raibh faitíos roimh choinscríobh mar chúis leis an tacaíocht do na reibiliúnaithe agus chuir sé in iúl go sásta nach raibh coinscríobh i gceist níos mó.
An Dr Denis G. Marnane Foilseofar ailt maidir le Tiobraid Árann i 1916 le D.G. Marnane agus Sean Hogan in Tipperary Historical Journal mí Aibreáin 2016.
Cúlra
In 2016, déanfar ceiliúradh ar chéad bliain ón Éirí Amach agus déanfar machnamh air go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Beidh ról ag Tiobraid Árann sa chomóradh seo ar fud na tíre agus leagtar amach sa phlean seo an clár imeachtaí atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair don bhliain seo chugainn. Tharla gluaiseachtaí sa chontae agus bhí roinnt daoine ó Thiobraid Árann nó a raibh ceangal acu le Tiobraid Árann bainteach leis an Éirí Amach. Ba as Cloch Shiurdáin duine den seachtar sínitheoirí leis an bhForógra agus duine de cheannairí an Éirí Amach, Tomás Mac Donnchadha. Sa bhliain atá amach romhainn, tá sé mar aidhm againn comóradh a dhéanamh ar Thomás Mac Donnchadha agus ar dhaoine eile ón gcontae a bhí páirteach in imeachtaí 1916, déanfaimid machnamh ar shaol 1916 do mhuintir Thiobraid Árann agus déanfaimid machnamh ar an imeacht seo a bhí ríthábhachtach i stair na tíre.
Tá grúpa stiúrtha ag treorú Chomóradh céad bliain 1916 ar a bhfuil rannóga Oidhreachta, Ealaíon, Músaem, Leabharlann agus Staidéir Áitiúla na comhairle agus arna thacú ag fochoiste. de chomhaltaí tofa.
Rinneadh comhairliúchán poiblí go dtí seo chun an plean a chur i dtoll a chéile, lena n–áirítear gairm phoiblí ar aighneachtaí sna meáin áitiúla i mí an Mhárta agus trí cheardlanna phoiblí san Aonach, i nDurlas agus i gCluain Meala.
Tá ról an phobail lárnach sa chlár agus leanfaidh Comhordaitheoir 2016 agus comhaltaí an ghrúpa stiúrtha ar aghaidh ag obair le grúpaí pobail i rith na bliana chun cur i bhfeidhm an phlean a mhaoirsiú.