Third class students from Cork have Lego Rising tribute viewed almost 60,000 times

Some aspects of this year’s 1916 centenary commemorations have come in for criticism, but this one certainly did not.

Last week, the boys of third class in Sunday’s Well National School in Cork City uploaded their own Lego figure depiction of the Easter Rising on YouTube. Since then, it has been viewed almost 60,000 times, and among those commenting was one Ian MacDonagh, who wrote: “My great grandfather Thomas MacDonagh would be impressed I’m sure, well done everyone!”

The stopframe video is a brilliantly succinct retelling of some of the key aspects of Easter Week 1916, the voiceover from the children, homemade sound effects, and staccato action imbuing it with an unexpected dramatic tension. It must have been both challenging and enormous fun for the boys of third class to do, all under the guidance of their teacher, Michael O’Connor.