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Sharon O’Keeffe KCC, John Breen KCC, Michael O’Reilly and Kate Kennelly KCC with in front; Pat McCarthy Mayor of Kerry and Moira Murrell Kerry County Manager at the Kerry County Council launch of the extensive programme of events as part of Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, at Tralee Library. Photo By : Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD ©
AN extensive programme of events across the seven programme strands of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme was launched on Thursday by Minister Jimmy Deenihan at Tralee Library.
As well as speeches by Robert Beasley, chairperson of the Strategic Policy Committee, Michael O’Reilly from the Ireland 2016 national office and Cathaoirleach of Kerry, Councillor Pat McCarthy, there was music by Tuatha, a performance by Caroline Lynch based on the writings of Cumann na mBan member Máirín Ryan (née Cregan) of Killorglin, and a reading by poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice of 1916 poems by Dora Sigerson Shorter, WB Yeats, Thomas Ashe and the song Banna Strand, all of which brought history to life for the audience.
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Chief Executive of Kerry County Council Moira Murrell was also in attendance as well as Councillors Sam Locke, Norma Moriarty and Jim Finucane.
Kate Kennelly KCC and Gabriel Fitzmaurice at the Kerry County Council launch of the extensive programme of events as part of Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, at Tralee Library. Photo By : Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD ©
Led by Kerry County Council and under the guidance of the local 1916 co-ordinator Kate Kennelly, the programme contains events and initiatives ranging across all seven strands of the Ireland 2016 programme.
Some of the events planned for Kerry include:
• A State Ceremonial event at Banna Strand on the 21st April – President Michael D Higgins will lay a wreath in honour of Roger Casement
• A major exhibition on the life of Roger Casement at Kerry County Museum opens on the 21st April
• The unveiling of a plaque at Valentia Island in honour of the Ring Brothers, with a colour party in attendance.
• A commemoration of the first casualties of the Rising at Ballykissane Pier, with a colour party in attendance.
• The unveiling of a bust of The O’Rahilly in Ballylongford on the 30th April
• Community groups and festivals and arts venues across the county are organising events throughout the year
Josie O’Donnell, Killorglin, Caroline Lynch, Tralee and Sean O’Sullivan Killarney at the Kerry County Council launch of the extensive programme of events as part of Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, at Tralee Library. Photo By : Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD ©
Speaking at the launch of the Kerry County Plan, Councillor Pat McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Kerry said: “Well done to everyone who has contributed to making the Kerry Programme for 2016 what it is – an inclusive, community led celebration of who we are and all that we have achieved over the last 100 years.”
A full programme of events for Kerry is available at www.kerry2016.ie and hard copy programmes will be available shortly from all Kerry libraries.
Further information on the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is available at www.ireland.ie
The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, led by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, T.D., is a year-long programme of activity to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and to look towards Ireland’s future.
Over 2,000 events nationally to date have been confirmed to take place in 2016 as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.
