Kilmainham Gaol This Week Remembers…
On Tuesday the 3rd of May the first of the private ceremonies remembering the executions of the 15 leaders of the Easter Rising were held. Tuesday marked the day that Thomas Clarke, Thomas MacDonagh and Padraig Pearse were put to death on the 3rd of May 1916.
This month Kilmainham Gaol, the place where it all ended for the men who were tried and found guilty, is hosting a series of State ceremonies on the dates they were put to death a hundred years ago. Only relatives of the now deceased leaders and the Government of Ireland will be there to conduct the 15 ceremonies.
Three Ministers, for three brave and courageous men, laid wreaths, read out the verdict of the court martial and delivered short narratives on each of the executed leaders. Minister of State, Joe McHugh, attended it on behalf of Thomas Clarke. Sadly there were no family members there to remember Thomas Clarke’s death a hundred years ago. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, was there for Thomas MacDonagh and Acting Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, was there for Pádraigh Pearse – their family members attended the laying of the wreaths.
On Wednesday the 4th of May, the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh ceremonies were held. On the 4th of May 1916 four executions took place at Kilmainham Gaol. Willie Pearse, Edward Daly, Michael O’Hanrahan and Joseph Plunkett were taken to the Stonebreakers Yard where they were executed.
Wreaths were laid by the Minister for Children, James Reilly and Minister for Communications, Alex White. Relatives of Willie, Edward, Michael and Joseph laid wreaths – Stephen Count Plunkett, Mairead de hOir, Helen Litton, Margaret O’Hanrahan Coyle and Rhona Reddington were there to remember the day, a hundred years ago, when they lost their family members. The National Anthem was played and the Irish flag was hoisted.
The other ceremonies that will take place at Kilmainham Gaol and in Cork City’s Old Prison this week and next week are:
3rd May, 9.30am, Ceremony for Pádraig Pearse, Kilmainham Gaol
3rd May, 11am, Ceremony for Thomas Clarke, Kilmainham Gaol
3rd May, 12pm, Ceremony for Thomas MacDonagh, Kilmainham Gaol
4th May, 9am, Ceremony for Joseph Mary Plunkett, Kilmainham Gaol
4th May, 10.30am, Ceremony for Edward Daly, Kilmainham Gaol
4th May, 11.30am, Ceremony for Michael O’Hanrahan, Kilmainham Gaol
4th May, 12.30pm, Ceremony for William Pearse, Kilmainham Gaol
5th May, 11am, Ceremony for John MacBride, Kilmainham Gaol
8th May, 9am, Ceremony for Con Colbert, Kilmainham Gaol
8th May, 10.30am, Ceremony for Éamonn Ceannt, Kilmainham Gaol
8th May, 12pm, Ceremony for Michael Mallin, Kilmainham Gaol
8th May, 1.30pm, Ceremony for Seán Heuston, Kilmainham Gaol
9th May, 10.30am, Ceremony for Thomas Kent, Old Prison, Cork City
12th May, 9am, Ceremony for Seán MacDiarmada, Kilmainham Gaol
12th May, 10.30am, Ceremony for James Connolly, Kilmainham Gaol
Hashtags: #Easter1916 
