How a bullet hole in a hat made sense of the 1916 commemorations for me

I really got into the 1916 Rising, watching on the telly and the touch pad. Going to different events and reading all dailies.

I was totally absorbed in the atmosphere of everything.

But one moment stood out more than any other.

My wife and I went to the 1916 exhibit at the Collins Barracks, Dublin an excellent setup of what happened at the time of The Rising. Going through all the exhibits I came upon one that had a hat in the display case.

For some reason I was drawn towards the hat and then the whole rebellion made sense to me... a bullet hole in the hat of an Irishman. Did he live? Why was he shot? Who shot him? Was he involved? Did he have a family?

If he lived, what was his life like after the rebellion?

It made it personal to me. I think, if I was around at this time, I hope I would have been involved.

Why did the rebellion happen... freedom. Freedom from being under the thumb of English rule.

Freedom to speak your own language, dance your own dance, play your own sports and be your Irish self.

Kevin Devitte

Mill Street

Westport

County Mayo