Dublin 1916 – A History Lives For Tourists
It is difficult to talk about Ireland without making some reference to its history and its relationship with Britain. The events of the early 20th Century in Ireland, and most particularly in Dublin, have an influence which is felt in the present day, and there are still more than a few situations when it is wise to avoid talking about politics altogether. Although the more recent trouble on the island has mostly been North of the border, the links to the present make Dublin’s history all the more relevant.
History is about place and time, and when the place is Dublin, and the time the year 1916, the history is by turns controversial, tragic and fascinating. It crystallises around the Easter Rising, when a group of rebel leaders, dissatisfied with British rule in Ireland and the perceived exploitation of Ireland by Britain, attempted to overthrow that rule by force on Easter Monday 1916. Their efforts ended in failure, and they were executed – but they had laid the foundation for the Irish Republic which was founded just five short years later.
The rebel leaders made their headquarters in Dublin’s General Post Office. It was from the steps of the Dublin GPO that one of the leaders, James Connolly, read out the Proclamation of the Republic Of Ireland. This status was not formalised and the British forces, initially caught cold by the rebels, sent in reinforcements. The British army eventually emerged triumphant, and the rebellion was quelled in six days. James Connolly, wounded by this time to such an extent that he was unable to stand, was executed by firing squad while tied to a chair. If one visits the Dublin GPO to this day, it is possible to see the bulletholes left in the columns of the building by shells fired by the British forces.
It was this short – and not universally popular – rebellion which led to the formation of the Irish Republican Army. Although this group, and its allied political grouping Sinn Fein, was the forefather of the groups of the same names who would be involved in the Troubles in Northern Ireland, they are not directly analogous. The Republic of Ireland as we know it today was created in 1921 when a treaty of partition was signed by Michael Collins, then the leader of the Republican forces. It was then established officially in December 1922, by which time Collins had been shot by Republicans hostile to the idea of partition.
To this day, Easter weekend holds symbolic importance to many in Ireland, and the Rising is commemorated with public ceremonies. Post-partition, Ireland has not been without its problems. Dublin, however, has grown into a city not defined by its history, but not liable to forget it. The GPO is one of many sites of historical importance in Dublin which are linked to the Easter Rising, and it sits right in the centre of modern Dublin, in the middle of O’Connell Street. It is more than worth a visit for those interested in history.
For more visitor tips for those wishing to visit Dublin – or simply learn more about Irish history and culture – visit our blog, Dublin-Ireland.info