Rain stays away as southern capital commemorates Rising

Arguably fewer cars troubled Cork this Easter Monday than was the case 100 years ago, as the city centre was taken over by pedestrians for the city’s state commemoration of the 1916 Rising.

Tue, 29 Mar, 2016 - 01:00

Joe Leogue and Niall Murray

Barring a couple of concerning moments where foreboding drops saw precautionary umbrellas deployed, the rain stayed away and thousands basked in midday sunshine for the parade, speeches, and music.

Students from Malaysia looked on curiously as the Defence Forces National Colour party led dignitaries from Cork County Hall along Western Road into the city, a parade that included historical enthusiasts donning the colours of Irish Volunteers, Black and Tans, and RIC officers.

“I’d heard of the 1916 Rising, but we don’t really know the details,” said Meghan Choy, studying medicine at UCC.

With fellow medicine student Natalie Ng and Sarah Lee, studying dentistry, both also from Malaysia, they looked on as county councillors led by Cork county mayor John Paul O’Shea, and relatives of Cork’s Irish Volunteers marched towards the city behind the Thomas Kent Pipe Band from Fermoy.

Many of the 8,000 or so crowd of the main event on Grand Parade missed the parade by the time they took up their vantage point along the closed thoroughfare.

The crowd peaked by the time the Proclamation was read at 1.08pm, spanning the width of the Grand Parade and thinning out towards the back as it reached the English Market.

Invited guests were seated at the front of the stage, positioned in front of the pedestrian bridge over the Lee facing down the Grand Parade.

It was flanked by a giant recreation of the Proclamation which covered one of the buildings on its left, on its right the National Monument stood tribute to the heroes of previous rebellions.

For regular updates on news and features (as well as twitter action action as it may have happened 100 years ago) to mark the revolutionary period follow @theirishrev HERE

Beyond the barrier separating the guests from the public, an entrepreneur had taken advantage of the bare trees lining Grand Parade to hang the commemorative T-shirts he was selling high on the branches for all to see.

At €7 a pop, punters had their choice of Michael Collins, Tom Barry, or GPO T-shirts, though the vendor remained quiet on how trade was doing — or how early he had to get there to secure the prime selling position.

While Mr O’Shea spoke of the “tangible and powerful connect with the people of Cork” and the events of 1916, some from outside the city were caught unaware of proceedings.

Shama and Rajas are Indian students studying in UCC. They had arranged to meet a third friend on Grand Parade, not knowing that the commemorations were taking place.

“I don’t know much about it,” said Shama. “I know it is the 100th anniversary of Ireland winning its independence,” she said.

Rajas said he was aware of the centenary having seen the commemorations in Dublin on Sunday.

“It looked really good,” he said.

Up at the barrier between the crowd and a big screen erected for the occasion, Maria O’Sullivan and her family from Ballincolling watched proceedings unfold. Her daughter Ciara, 10, said she had been learning about 1916 in school.

“It was when Ireland fought to break free from the English,” she said.

While many parents took in the symbolism of the event, and listened intently to the solemn speeches outlining the importance of the occasion, it was clear that many of the much younger in the crowd were waiting patiently, though not in all cases, for the grand finale.

Small Tricolours in smaller hands waved as cheers greeted the Air Corps which appeared from behind the row of buildings on Sullivans Quay, flying in perfect formation down Grand Parade, before soaring over the Coal Quay and disappearing into the distance.

As the planes became dots on the horizon, many took the opportunity to leave and the crowd dispersed, some staying to take in the showcase of Irish music.

Weary legs gave way, and fathers with folded-up flags hanging from their back pockets carried tired youngsters home.

At the corner of Grand Parade and South Mall some stopped to partake in a very modern practice — a selfie with members of the Irish Volunteers and Royal Irish Constabulary.