THE GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED its much-anticipated plan for the 1916 centenary this week — but almost as soon as the announcement was made, the programme came in for some severe criticism.
The official website for the initiative contained ‘gibberish’ Irish for starters — apparently derived via Google Translate. And then there was the small matter of the promotional video for ‘Ireland 2016′ which failed to mention any of the signatories of the Proclamation.
The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Arts & Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys announced at the GPO on Wednesday that the 2016 programme will have five themes: Remember, Reconcile, Imagine, Present and Celebrate.
The Government is pledging the the events will be inclusive, and while a number of key ceremonies and programmes have been announced already, they’re asking for individuals and groups to give their input on what should happen over at at the ’2016′ website. (As it happens, the official website is ‘temporarily undergoing maintenance’ this afternoon.)
How do you think the 1916 centenary should be marked?
Do you agree with some of the criticism, that the Government is attempting to ‘sanitise’ its marketing of the programme?
Do you think more should be done to make sure the events that take place are inclusive of all participants in the Rising?
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