Page 6 - Report on County Wexford 1916- 2016 Centenary Programme

IRELAND 1916 CENTENARY PROGRAMME IN COUNTY WEXFORD

Preparation

In early 2015 public consultation workshops were held with the general public,
seeking their input into the range and type of projects and events that should form
part of our centenary commemorations. It was strongly outlined at these workshops
that the programme should be solemn, inclusive, reflective and inspiring to our youth
and this then became the main theme and aspiration of the programme.

The highlights of the County Wexford Centenary Programme included a range of
ceremonial events, historical lectures, conferences and literary publications on
various aspects of 1916, including the County Wexford Schools pack, County
Wexford 1916 exhibition, a range of concerts, film recordings, a 1916 themed song
and poetry compilation, the dedication of a memorial garden, restoration of The
Athenaeum and the annual Easter Monday celebration in Enniscorthy, which in 2016
formed part of a select national wreath laying ceremony, followed by Ireland’s largest
1916 based battle re-enactment.

The County Wexford 1916 Centenary Commemorative Committee was formed under
the Chairmanship of Mr. Eddie Breen and was made up of the following members;
Seán Doyle (President), Eddie Breen, John Carley, Pádraig O’Gorman, Cllr Keith
Doyle, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cllr Johnny Mythen,
Cllr Larry O Brien, Cllr Anthony Kelly, Cllr Pip Breen, Rory O’Connor, Jacqui Hynes,
Peter Byrne, Fionnuala Hanrahan, Gráinne Doran, Sinéad O Gorman, Jarlath Glynn,
Dr. Henry Goff, Bernard Browne, Séamus Rafter and Helen Ashdown.

It was envisaged that the Centenary Programme would be a year-long programme
commencing in 2015 and continuing throughout 2016. The core programme of
events was outlined in the Centenary Programme, which was supplemented by a
range of local community-based events. A record of the County Wexford 1916
centenary commemorative events can be accessed on the dedicated 1916 website
www.enniscorthy1916.ie with links to the National 2016 website.
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