THEIR PARTIES MAY have originated from either side of the divide of the Civil War but both Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin have given their seal of approval to a new website commemorating the 1916 Rising.
The Easter1916.ie website was created by students from the MSc in Applied Digital Media at Griffith College Dublin ahead of the Rising centenary in just over four years’ time. It features important archival material including rare photographs taken in 1916 and witness statements preserved by the Bureau of Military History in Rathmines, Dublin.
The interactive design of the site allows users to explore key Easter Rising locations in the capital and provides an e-learning tool for primary and secondary school students.
Fr Joseph Mallin, who was just two years old when his father Michael was executed at Kilmainham Gaol for his part in the insurrection, also makes a contribution to the site. Now living in Hong Kong and the last surviving child of those executed in 1916, Fr Mallin said that paying tribute to the 1916 fighters is still important. He said:
They did shape the country. What is gained with little or no effort is not valued. 1916 did set an ideal.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the site would play a “significant role” in getting young people engaged with their history. He said:
As we move towards the centenary of this most important historical event, it is imperative that the social, cultural, economic, administrative and political environments that shaped it be understood.
Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin said that the site had brought together “important documents”, adding:
Preserving and promoting our history through new digital technology is extremely important and is making historical material much more accessible and interactive.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say