Commemorative Events

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (736)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

736. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department has been approached regarding a centenary event to mark the gun landings by the Irish Volunteers on Kilcoole Beach, County Wicklow, on 1 August 2014; if his Department intends to mark the event as part of national centenary occasions in the coming years; if funding will be made available from his Department or through other resources to a non-partisan and non-party political local interest group or committee to enable a centenary event to occur next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37124/13]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The founding of the Irish Volunteers and the subsequent import of arms will feature in the Centenary commemorative programme. The official arrangements in this regard are currently under consideration.

I warmly welcome the interest of community and history groups to mark the anniversaries of the landings at Howth on 29 July 1914 and at Kilcoole on 1 August 1914. I would suggest to such groups that contact might be made with my Department so that plans could be co-ordinated and the capacity for support assessed.