Path to the Centenary: Dublin History Festival
This year Dublin will be celebrating its third annual Dublin Festival of History. There will be of course greater emphasis on 1916 Rising on the lead up to next year’s Centenary. With little more than seven months to go many artists, performers and history interested Dubliners have begun to get their projects off the ground and ready. For some, there is still a lot of preparation work staring them in the face before they can ready themselves for the celebrations next year.
The Festival launched their programme this week and will be running from the 25th September to the 10th October. Some of the topics include the History of FAI (25/09/15, 8pm), Bloody Sunday 1920 (26/09/15, 11.30 am), Unionists and Nationalists in WW 1 (26/09/15, 1pm), A History of Nazi Concentration Camps (26/09/15, 3pm), Lord Edward and his Best friend valet (26/09/15, 5pm), plus many more. All these events are in the Printworks in Dublin Castle and all completely free.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh said at the launch of the Festival’s programme: “Building on the enormous public interest in the Centenary to date, Dublin City Council’s 3rd Dubin Festival of History invites Dubliners and visitors alike to gather to listen and to debate a wide range of historical themes. The festival is packed with interesting lectures, debate, film and walks and is a real treat for the history buff. Tá fhios agam go bhfuil suim mhór ag muintir Bhaile Átha Cliath i stair na cathrach. Tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh daoine go dtí na cainteanna. Táim cinnte go mbainfidh siad an-taitneamh as clár breá na féile.”
To be discussed also is the social history of Dublin throughout its sporting and culinary life. A panel of Irish Historians has been selected to speak about this year’s commemorative events and what can be expected next year as 2016 celebrates the first hundred years since the 1916 Rising. Irish Historians Diarmuid Ferriter, Anne Dolan, John A. Murphy and Eamon Phoenix will be on this panel. The Festival will be held at Dublin Castle, branch libraries and many other venues around the city. The programme also focuses on other 1916 Rising events and developments, and branch libraries will have talks on the fire brigade in 1916, women who took part in the Rising, the labour movement at Easter Week and the re-development of Richmond Barracks (where work is already in progress).
If you’re anything like me and find history fascinating this is a wonderful opportunity to get out of the house and learn, debate and discuss with some great authorities on the subject. Hope to see you there!
