1916 Centenary in Athenry 2016

Irish Volunteers who took part in the 1916 Easter Rising throughout Galway were remembered at a National Centenary event in Athenry’s Town Park on Easter Monday 2016. To mark the occasion Athenry’s Remembrance Garden was officially opened and Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College over two days.

Athenry played central role in the State’s commemoration of 1916 Athenry took centre stage in the State’s commemoration of 1916, when on Easter Monday 2016, the town hosted a special State ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Athenry and Galway rebels led the largest uprising outside of Dublin during the Easter Rising taking over the Agricultural College and Moyode Castle before being ordered to disband.

Chosen as one of only four locations, outside of Dublin, to host a State ceremony, more than 5,000 people joined the relatives of the Galway men and women of 1916, for the synchronized wreath-laying cermony. This special day in the history of the county, began at 9.30 am with a tree planting ceremony in the Town Park where seven even oak trees were planted by the Cathaoirleach and members of Galway County Council.

The event began at 11.20 am with Aeraíocht - a presentation and celebration of the cultural traditions of the county in music, song, dance and poetry, with a range of world-class musicians and dancers taking to the stage. The formal State ceremony got under way with a Paráid: Dathanna Phobail na Gaillimhe, a spectacular parade of the colours of the communities of the county, carried by the U-16 Captains of the GAA clubs and led by St. Patrick’s Band. The parade commenced at the ‘Back Lawn’ (Kenny Park) where Liam Mellows and the leaders of the Galway Volunteers, trained and drilled the Volunteers and will traveled through the town centre before converging on the Town Park for the formal State ceremony.

The Defence Forces played a prominent role, with local officer Comdt Frank Flannery reading the Proclamation, playing the Piper’s Lament, the Last Post and raising the National Flag. The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O Sullivan T.D. layed the wreath on behalf of the State at 1.15 pm. The wreath-laying ceremony was part of a series of synchronised wreath-laying ceremonies, with wreaths also being laid at significant sites in Dublin, Meath, Cork, and Wexford. The wreaths were simultaneously laid at precisely 1.15 p.m. - the time that the Rising’s very first shots rang out. The ceremonial event concluded with the playing of the National Anthem by the St. Patrick’s Band with an Air Corps Fly Past during the closing notes.

A community programme immediately followed the State ceremonies and included a Parade from the Town Park to the ‘Back Lawn’. The State wreath was carried by representatives of Galway County Comhairle na nOg and the relatives of the Galway men and women of 1916. The wreath was laid at the monument of Liam Mellows as part of the official opening of Athenry’s 1916 Commemorative Garden. A series of lectures, films and exhibitions followed in Athenry Community Hall, a venue used by Irish Volunteers on the eve of the 1916 Rising to make final preparations. A music concert followed at 7.00 pm in the Raheen Woods Hotel, with contributions from the Athenry Youth Orchestra and Music Matters Loughrea, based on the themes of Ireland 2016, brought historic day to a close.

The Last Post is played by an Army bugler during the 1916 remembrance day in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

State ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Athenry

Official opening of Athenry’s ‘Rememberance Garden’ on Easter Monday March 28th 2016

Official opening of Athenry’s ‘Rememberance Garden’ on Easter Monday March 28th 2016

Official opening of Athenry’s ‘Rememberance Garden’ on Easter Monday March 28th 2016

Official opening of Athenry’s ‘Rememberance Garden’ on Easter Monday March 28th 2016

Official opening of Athenry’s ‘Rememberance Garden’ on Easter Monday March 28th 2016

Official opening of Athenry’s ‘Rememberance Garden’ on Easter Monday March 28th 2016

Members and officials at the unveiling of a plaque at the GAA’s Kenny Memorial Park in honor of Tom Kenny

Members and officials at the unveiling of a plaque at the GAA’s Kenny Memorial Park in honor of Tom Kenny

Members and officials at the unveiling of a plaque at the GAA’s Kenny Memorial Park in honor of Tom Kenny

Members and officials at the unveiling of a plaque at the GAA’s Kenny Memorial Park in honor of Tom Kenny

Members and officials at the unveiling of a plaque at the GAA’s Kenny Memorial Park in honor of Tom Kenny

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College

Teagasc organised a spectacular 1916 Farming and Country Living Exhibition at Liam Mellow’s College