Written answers

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Commemorative Events

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to commemorate the centenary of the founding of Cumann na mBan which occurs in April 2014. [55249/13]

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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424. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans in progress to officially celebrate the centenary of the founding of Cumann na mBan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55576/13]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 424 together.

The founding of Cumann na mBan on April 2nd 1914 was a very significant development and will be a salient date in the centenary commemorative calendar. In seeking to ensure that the commemorative programme is authentic, comprehensive and inclusive, I am particularly concerned that the role of women in the Irish revolution - and especially their service relating to the Easter Rising - will be acknowledged and brought to public attention.

The history and achievements of Cumann na mBan will be presented at a special conference organised by the Women’s History Association of Ireland on 4 and 5 April and I am pleased to be in a position to host this event at the National Museum in Collins Barracks.

Arrangements are being made for a special issue commemorative postage stamp marking the founding of Cumann na mBan. Further proposals are under development with my colleagues in Government and other commemoration partners (particularly Glasnevin Trust) regarding other presentations, wreath laying and special ceremonies to mark this important anniversary. The formation and development of Cumann na mBan will also be featured in Century Ireland, the online contemporary newspaper of the Centenary programme.

I hope that this Centenary anniversary will also be marked by community and voluntary groups, academic institutions and local authorities. I would encourage all who hold memoirs, photographs, records or artefacts relevant to Cumann na mBan to bring them forward at this time. The national and local authority collections would be enhanced to receive digitised copies of such records. Additionally, I would welcome contact from interested parties to discuss any proposals that they may wish to bring forward to mark the anniversary of the founding of Cumann na mBan.

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