Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2014
115. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his Department's plan to mark the forthcoming centenary of the Asgard landing arms in Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27656/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the arming of the Irish Volunteers was an enabling development in the progress towards the Rising at Easter 1916. Although the landing of arms at Howth was successfully accomplished, the attempted seizure of the weapons by the authorities ended with fatal shootings of civilians at Bachelors Walk. Official commemorations and community initiatives will mark the centenary of these historic events on Saturday, 26th and Sunday, 27th July. The National Museum at Collins Barracks will have special presentations at the Asgard Gallery on Saturday, while commemorations on Sunday will include an acknowledgement at Glasnevin cemetery of those who died. A memorial mass will also be arranged.
An official commemoration will take place at Howth Harbour, followed by a community programme in the harbour with sailing craft of the period. I am very pleased that the commemorative arrangements will include not only relatives of those involved in the historic events, but also those involved in the conservation and preparation of the yacht Asgard now on display in the National Museum in Collins Barracks. I am aware that a community programme is also being prepared for 26th and 27th July to commemorate the secondary landing of arms at Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, from the yacht Kelpie. Arrangements for these centenary commemorations are at an advanced stage of preparation and further details will be announced shortly.
