By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy
The 110th anniversary of the 1916 Rising in Enniscorthy took place this morning beginning with Mass celebrated by Fr. James Cullen in St. Aidan’s Cathedral, Enniscorthy. Wreath laying ceremonies at Market Square, the Athenaeum and the Seamus Rafter monument were amongst the highlights.
The Colour Party from E.Coy 3rd Batt., Co. Wexford consisting of Capt. Aidan Doyle, Cpl. Gareth Lloyd and Cpl. Francis Harrigan, and St. Colman’s Pipe Band, Ballindaggin, with Pipe Major Jim Byrne lead the parade through Main Street, Pig Market Hill, Wafer Street, and into Market Square, where the Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr. Barbara Anne Murphy delivered an address and laid a wreath on the 1798 Memorial.
Cllr Murphy reminded us that: “On Thursday of Easter Week, April 27th, 1916 the leaders of the Easter Rising in Enniscorthy, took control of several important buildings in the town namely, the castle, the courthouse, the railway station and the Athenaeum where which they made their headquarters. On that same day, the Irish tricolour was raised by members of Cumann na mBan over the Athenaeum. The three young women were Una Bolger, Gretta Comerford and Marian Stokes.
Una Bolger, an Oylegate native who later married 1916 leader Robert Brennan holds a singular place in our history as one of only two women who was ever granted membership of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
A week later Enniscorthy was the last town to surrender in all of Ireland on Monday, May 1st.”
Judy Heffernan read the 1916 Proclamation, a minutes’ silence was observed, Anthony Nolan played the Last Post and Ballindaggin Pipe Band brought proceedings to a conclusion with Amhrán na bFhiann. The Martina Leacy School of Dancing also made a musical contribution to the occasion.
The attendance included Minister James Browne TD, Johnny Mythen TD, Cllrs Aidan Browne, John O’Rourke and Pat Kehoe and former TD John Browne. Apologies from Senator Cathal Byrne and Cllr Trish Byrne. Martin Whelan was master of ceremonies.
Other participants included INVU (Irish United Nations Veterans), O.N.E. (Organisation of National Ex-Service Men and Women). Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society members, students and professors from Georgia Southern University, and Cllr Murphy thanked “my friend Dr. Howard for his dedication to strengthening the Wexford Savannah connection, the Easter Monday Commemoration Committee and the staff of Wexford County Council and “each and every one of you who come to this commemoration every year.”
Cllr Pat Kehoe laid a wreath at the Athenaeum, headquarters of the Irish Volunteers in 1916 marking the 10th anniversary of its renovation, and Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy laid a wreath at the Seamus Rafter memorial on Abbey Quay.
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