Cecilia Keaveney
Question:151 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Taoiseach the commemorations, if any, planned for 1998. [2123/98]
Written Answers. - Commemorative Events.
I propose to circulate the following details of proposed commemorations, in so far, as they are available, for 1998 in the Official Report.
The following is a list of the confirmed and proposed commemorations of the bicentenary of the 1798 Rising which are supported by the Government's 1798 Commemoration Committee.
List of Proposed Commemorations for 1998
Department of Defence
1916 Commemoration ceremony, Arbour Hill, May 1998. Deceased members commemoration, November, 1998.
Commemorative ceremonies to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Defence Forces participation in United Nations peace-keeping operations, details to be finalised.
Department of the Environment and Local Government
Mid-1998 to mid-1999 a series of national events to commemorate the centenary of the system of local government, that is, Local Government Act, 1898 and establishment of county councils in 1899.
Department of Public Enterprise
An Post — Programme of Commemorative Stamps Bi-centenary of the 1798 Rebellion.
Centenary of local government.
Centenary of women's vote in local elections.
Centenary of Mary Immaculate Training College, Limerick.
25th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the EU.
50th anniversary of the introduction of the Republic of Ireland Act.
Iarnród Éireann
Local commemoration on Saturday, 14 March, 1998 to mark the 150th anniversary of rail services in Thurles.
Aer Lingus
40th anniversary of their transatlantic service in April.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Consideration is being given to holding some commemorative event for the 25th anniversary of Ireland joining the EU.
Consideration is also being given to commemorating the 50th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights.
Department of the Taoiseach
National Day of Commemoration, Sunday, 12 July.
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Consideration is being given to commemorating the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Revenue Commissioners.
The Confirmed 1798 Events/Projects are:
Ecumenical Service
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin on 14 June 1998 at 3.15 p.m.
The President and Taoiseach will be invited to attend — invitations will issue from St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Dublin/Belfast Choral Festival (Mozart '98 Requiem)
Organisers are bringing together a large number of singers and instrumentalists from North and South to perform in Wexford, Dublin and Belfast (7-9 April 1998).
International Conference, “1798 A Bicentenary Perspective”
International conference to be held in the Ulster Museum from 19 to 20 May and Dublin Castle from 21 to 23 May.
The conference will look at all aspects of 1798 including national and international.
Wolfe Tone Diaries
Funding given to Liliput Press to assist with the publication of Wolfe Tone diaries.
National 1798 Centre, Enniscorthy
Government's 1798 commemoration committee is working in association with Comóradh '98 on the National 1798 Centre at Enniscorthy, which will be opened in March. A Bord Fáilte grant has been made available to this project.
National Library/National Museum Exhibition
This interactive exhibition will look at all aspects of 1798 including the national and international perspective and will open in Collins Barracks in May.
Tour de France
To mark the commemoration of the 1798 Rebellion, day three of the Tour de France will start in Enniscorthy.
School Competitions
National school banner competition and secondary school essay competition, junior cycle and transition year, are being organised in association with the Department of Education.
1798 Stamps
An Post will issue a series of stamps to commemorate 1798.
Humbert Summer School, Mayo
Funding will be made available to the Humbert Summer School to assist with the cost of the publication of the summer school proceedings. The theme of the summer school isThe Republican Ideal and its legacy today and will run from 19 to 23 August.
Irish and British Governments 1798 Commemoration Scholarship
This three year scholarship at the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool, is being funded by the Irish and British Governments. The scholarship is funding research on the theme‘United Britons; The influence of the United Irishmen on British radicalism during the 1790s’.
Restoration of William Lawless Tomb in Paris
In 1995 the Government's 1798 commemoration committee made funding available towards the restoration of the William Lawless tomb.
Bantry Bay Summer School
In 1996 funding was made available to Bantry Bay Summer School which was dealing with the theme of the French Revolution and its relevance to Ireland which was especially suitable as it was the bi-centenary of the arrival at Bantry of the French Armada carrying Wolfe Tone.
International 1798 Conference Notre Dame Indiana
Funding has been made available to Notre Dame University to assist with a major international conference on the theme of 1798. This conference is taking place from March 30 to April 1.
Lecture Tour of USA
Plans are under way to undertake a 1798 lecture tour of America in March of this year. Proposed locations: New York, Washington, Boston, Connecticut and Indiana.
Lecture Tour of Australia
Plans are under way to undertake a 1798 lecture tour of Australia in September, 1998. Proposed cities: Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart, Tasmania.
RTE 1798 TV Documentary Series
Funding has been given to assist with the cost of the production of three one hour programmes dealing with 1798 from a national and international perspective. It is hoped that this series will be broadcast in May.
Linen Hall Library, Belfast — 1798 Exhibition
Funding has been given to assist with the 1798 exhibition. It is intended that this exhibition will tour south of the Border using the library network.
Irish Theatre Archive Exhibition
Funding has been made available to the Irish Theatre Archive to assist with an exhibition marking theatre's portrayal of the 1798 rising. This exhibition will be on display in the Dublin Civic Museum.
The Film Institute of Ireland 1798 Film Festival
Funding has been made available to assist with the cost of the 1798 Film Festival and the copying of 1798 film for archival purposes. The festival will be held on 27/28 February at the Irish Film Centre, Eustace St, Dublin.
Joint Education Pack
Plans are under way regarding the production of a joint 1798 education pack for circulation to schools both North and South.
Croppies Acre Memorial
Discussions are under way in association with the Office of Public Works, the National Museum of Ireland and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands regarding the development of a 1798 memorial at the Croppies Acre site. This project is being funded and co-ordinated by Office of Public Works.
Ecumenical Service
Ecumenical service for remembrance will take place in St. Iberius Church, Rowe St, Wexford on 31 May in acknowledgement of all those who died in 1798.
Parnell Summer School
Funding will be made available to assist with this year's Parnell Summer School and the publication of the school's papers. The theme of this year's school is ‘The Republic' and will run from 9 to 16 August.
The proposed 1798 Events-Projects are:
Women's History Project — Drennan Papers
The commemoration committee are hoping to assist with the cost of the publication this year of the Drennan papers in association with the Women's Project.
Tree Planting
Commemoration office is in discussion with Coillte regarding the possibility of marking 1798 with a national tree planting day.
Human Rights
1998 is the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 5th Anniversary of the UN Vienna Declaration. The commemoration office is working with the human rights unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs to find a suitable project for funding. ster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the
Joint Irish/French Project
Commemoration committee is pursuing the possibility of adopting a joint Irish/French Defence Forces proposal to commemorate the Humbert landing in Mayo and progress through Ireland.
Local Projects
It is hoped that the committee will, budget permitting, be in a position to make small grants available to some suitable local projects.
The commemoration committee is continuing to develop projects of permanent and lasting significance to mark the bicentenary in counties where activity took place in 1798 such as Meath, Wicklow, Antrim, Down and Longford, Carlow, Kildare and Donegal.