Events slated to celebrate Irish Easter Rising anniversaryDate: 3/11/2016 SPRINGFIELD – A long list of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland, which led to its independence and Springfield’s connection to it was announced on March 4.
Mayor Domenic Sarno joined Congressman Richard Neal at the announcement that was conducted at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. Although many of the activities will be in Springfield, there will also be events in Chicopee and Holyoke.
Neal explained that Springfield had been one of the centers of Irish immigration when the potato famine devastated the nation in the mid-19th Century. He added Springfield residents of Irish ancestry supported the Irish Revolution and Springfield provided sanctuary for some of the patriots who had a price on their heads.
The activities lead up to the dedication of a memorial garden in Forest Park.
• March 8 to May 22: Easter Rising: Springfield’s Response to the 1916 Rising. This display will include two exhibit cases with photographs, a newspaper of the day, and memorabilia related to the Easter Rising and its impact in Springfield. The display will also include several other newspaper headlines reproduced and enlarged in order to provide viewers with an understanding of the impact this important event had on the people of that time. This exhibit will explore this seminal event, and examine the role Irish-Americans played in supporting the efforts of the Republicans. Museum charge.
• March 13: PBS Premieres, “The 1916 Irish Rebellion” a three-part series.? The documentary is an initiative of the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame and will air at 2:30 p.m. over WGBY Public Television for Western New England.
• March 17: Springfield Parade Committee St. Patrick’s Day Mass. Join the Springfield Parade Committee and their honored guests at their annual Mass. Immediately following Mass, the Irish Flag will be raised on the steps of Springfield City Hall, followed by a reception in the ante room. Mass starts at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St. Free to the public.
• March 20: The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. Free to the public.
• March 21: “Of Terrible and Splendid Things: A Commemoration of the Easter Rising 1916.” A word and image exhibit researched, compiled, and created by the students in the Spring 2016 exhibition/history class including memorabilia and photographs. ?The event is co-sponsored with the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. There will be a reception at 5 to 7 p.m. at Elms College, Chicopee, in the Mary Dooley Center, second floor. Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March 7 to 31, excluding college holidays. Free to the public.
• March 27: The Annual Commemoration of the Easter Rising (Éirí Amach na Cásca) of 1916. All are welcome to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Rising, an event that forever changed the course of Irish History. A procession will take place to the graveside of Irish Volunteer Patrick Hagerty. There will be a short ceremony with readings in both English and Irish. The annual presentation of the Hagerty Award for Selfless Dedication to the Cause of Irish Freedom will take place at the graveside at 4 p.m. at St. Michael’s Cemetery, 1601 State St. Free to the public. There will be a reception immediately following at the members’ lounge of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club, ?33 Progress Ave. where an educational slide show of the Easter Rising will be presented. Join us for an evening of fun and entertainment with music by the Bards.?Free to the public.
• April 10; “The Quiet Man” screening. Director John Ford’s nostalgic tribute to Ireland, “The Quiet Man,” will be shown at 2 p.m. at City Stage. Free to the public.
• April 23: Ancient Order of Hibernians Raising of the Irish Flag, Mass and Reception. The flag raising will be at 1 p.m. at City Hall in Holyoke with Mass at 4 p.m. at St. Jerome’s Church. Free to the public. Immediately following the Mass will be a reception at the Wherehouse, Holyoke, with music by the Noel Henry Band from Boston. The cost is $30 per person with all proceeds benefitting the Sisters of St. Joseph Retirement Fund.
• April 24: Ceili at the Club in Commemoration of the 1916 Uprising. Refreshments will be served. Music by Jimmy McArdle, Barney McElhoe, Jerry Sullivan and John Joe Martin. ?The party will be at 2: p.m. at the?John Boyle O’Reilly Club, Springfield. The cost is $5 per person.
• April 30, 2016: Trace Your Genealogy. This introductory overview will cover the basics of how to conduct genealogical research, become a genealogy detective, and explore genealogy websites and how to get the best out of them, and much more. It will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Springfield Science Museum’s Tolman Auditorium. Free to the public.
• May 14: Welcome reception to greet honored guests from Ireland. The exhibit prepared by the Springfield Museum will be on display. There will be Irish music and light hors d’oeuvres. 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. Free to the public. On the same day there will be a Mass of Remembrance and Honor Ireland and Her Diaspora from 6 to 7 p.m. at Springfield’s St. Michael Cathedral. Free to the public. Following the Mass, there will be Fáilte Abhaile-Welcome Home 1916-2016. ?The Pioneer Valley comes together to celebrate its Irish heritage. There will be Irish music featuring local talent, refreshments, light fare and a cash bar from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum Springfield. Free to the public.
• May 15: 1916 Remembrance Garden Dedication Ceremony. Join Neal and Sarno in commemorating the 1916 Remembrance, the first to be built in the United States at 11 a.m. at Forest Park in Springfield. The public is invited to the John Boyle O’Reilly Club following the ceremony. Free to the public.
|
