Dublin’s O’ Connell Street to be pedestrianised for Easter Rising commemorations

Dublin’s O’Connell Street will take a step back 100 years on Easter Monday as part of RTE’s ’Road to the Rising’ commemorations.

It sees the start of a series of events that mark the year that led to the 1916 Rising.

The initiative has been created in partnership with An Post, Dublin City Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with support Century Ireland, the Abbey Theatre, the National Library, Transport for Ireland and the local business sector.

The street will be pedestrianised for the day and re-imagined as it was in 1915.

Noel Curran, Director General, RTÉ said: “RTÉ Road to the Rising stands as testimony to our commitment to marking and celebrating the key events of the Decade of Commemorations. This will be a highly engaging re-imagining of this period in history and will help set the stage for many important conversations about our national identity and cultural roots.”

The day will feature performances by Jack L, The High Kings, and the Rathmines & Rathgar Musical Society as well as on-street displays, demonstrations and exhibitions.

Two new dramas which are being specifically devised for the event will also premiere on the day.

At the GPO, the National Library’s team of archivists and historians will meet the public and assess their items connected with the Rising.

The event will also feature more than more than 60 lectures, talks and panel discussions at a number of locations around the city.

Hosted by RTÉ presenters, these will include such topics as ‘Wives, Mothers and Revolutionaries, Women in 1915 Ireland’, ‘The Twilight of Empire’, ‘Law and Order in Ireland 1915’, and ‘Beyond the Legend: Family Memories of the Volunteers’.

Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. said: “RTÉ Road to the Rising is a fantastic platform through which Irish people can approach the events of 1916 in a way that is interesting and engaging for all ages. It is also an excellent lead into the launch of Ireland 2016, the national initiative to mark the Centenary of the Easter Rising.”

A full outline of the schedule of activities is available at www.rte.ie/1916