Dublin City Council has announced a new grants scheme to encourage public participation in the commemorations of the 1916 Rising. The Council is now accepting applications from community groups and organisations in Dublin city who want to organise events and projects to commemorate the 1916 Rising. Dublin City Council has made €150,000 available in funding, distributed equally across the five Local Areas in the Council’s administrative district. Grants are available for community-based activities focusing on the 1916 Rising and seeking to raise awareness in local areas of the history of the Rising e.g. seminars, lectures, walking tours, publications, exhibitions, theatre events. Funds will be made available this year to facilitate planning of events to take place in 2016.
For my part, I feel there is a clear need to make sure that our communities, towns, and villages get fully involved in the 1916 commemorations, and I am delighted that Dublin City Council has made €150,000 available to ensure Dublin plays its part – with €30,000 allocated to Dublin North West.
In addition, I think this fund will augment the money set forward by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in respect of the commemorations, and I have no doubt that they will ensure inclusive, appropriate events right across our nation. €150,000 is a sizable amount, and I think it is appropriate for Dublin to play a central role in the commemoration, given it was centre stage for many of the key events in 1916
However, I do believe that – beyond 2016 – the best way we can commemorate 1916 is by ensuring that the ideals of 1916 are fulfilled, and we work consistently to build a fairer nation with equality and freedom for all who reside here.