100 Years Later, Irish Remember the 1916 Easter Rising

Walking around the city of Dublin, visitors may notice murals and plaques all with one common theme – the historic battle of the 1916 Easter Rising.

The year marks the 100-th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, when Irish Nationalists led a rebellion against the British in an attempt to gain independence.

Donal Casey, an Irish Culture and Politics Lecturer at the Dublin Business School, says the rising was not as successful as the rebels hoped, stating, “The rebellion was a military failure, from the Irish Nationalist point of view, but the leaders of the rebellion were executed, and this really radicalized public sympathy and public opinion towards the more radical, Nationalist view. So the event itself wasn’t incredibly successful, but the legacy was very important and it lead directly to the events that lead to independence in 1922.”

Many buildings and monuments still stand in modern Dublin as reminders of the rebels who fought in the Easter Rising. Casey commented, “The General Post Office is the main, tangible monument of the 1916 Rising – it’s the place that was the headquarters of the rebels… you’ll also find plaques and different things. The other really obvious way that the rebels of the 1916 Rising are remembered is in place names and street names.”

On O’Connell Street, where most of the fighting took place, reminders of the 1916 Easter Rising still surround us today. Many buildings and statues, such as the monument of religious freedom leader Daniel O’Connell, still bear bullet holes from the original 1916 battles.

Commemorative parades, re-enactments, and other events were also held throughout the year in Dublin and all across Ireland to celebrate the centenary.

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