Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan T.D. and Minister David Stanton T.D. today announced a significant Decade of Centenaries national programme for 2020 including a major commemorative programme in remembrance of the significant events that occurred in Cork City in 1920.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Sheehan and the Deputy Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Susan McCarthy were also in attendance at the event, where it was announced that overall Government investment in the Cork commemorative events in 2020 will be up to €1 million.
The main focus of the State Commemorations programme during 2020 will be in Cork. During the year, transformative events that occurred 100 years ago will be marked include: the deaths of two of the city’s first citizens, Tomás Mac Curtain (March) and Terence MacSwiney (October); the Kilmichael Ambush in the County (November) and the burning of Cork City (December).
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Sheehan said: “This year is a unique opportunity for the people of Cork City and beyond to respectfully remember the landmark, but very often difficult, events that took place in Cork in 1920; events which had such a lasting impact on our country. The commemorative programme in the city will hopefully prompt conversations at our kitchen tables and in our wider communities that will help us better understand who we are and where we have come from”.
The State’s objective is to ensure that the centenary of the Struggle
for Independence is remembered with an appropriate, meaningful,
proportionate and sensitive programme, which recognises the legitimacy
of all traditions and values mutual respect and historical accuracy.
Earlier
this week, Cork City Council announced that communities and
organisations across Cork City are invited to avail of the Cork 2020
Commemorations Fund, supporting local events commemorating the centenary
of this monumental year in the history of the city. Application forms
are available on www.corkcity.ie.
**Photo by Clare Keogh shows Minister David Stanton, Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. John Sheehan, Minister Josepha Madigan, Deputy Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. Susan McCarthy and Cathal MacSwiney-Brugha, grandson of Terence MacSwiney, looking at original papers from the United States documenting the hunger strike and death of Terence MacSwiney.**
