Just a reminder that tonight’s 1916 Commemoration Lectures  takes place in the Barbican Centre, William Street, The lectures start at 7.30pm.

The first lecture will see Mary Gallagher, a grand niece of Eamonn Ceannt, speak on Eamonn Ceannt – The Drogheda Connection.Mary’s book on Ceannt has recently been published by O’Brien Press as part of the 16 Men series on the 16 men executed after the Rising.

Éamonn Ceannt is, in many ways, the ‘unknown’ man among the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, and the signatories to the proclamation of the Irish Republic.The son of a head constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary , who served in both Drogheda and Ardee, Eamonn was an unlikely revolutionary.

One of Ceannt’s brothers had followed their father into the RIC and another was a professional soldier in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Ceannt himself had a secure, pensionable job in Dublin Corporation. He was very happily married and had a young son.

The second lecture will see Liam Reilly of Drogheda Museum Millmount talk on 1916 Volunteer Activity in Drogheda.
The Irish Volunteers in Drogheda were small in number and Liam will talk about the men from the area who actually fought in the Rising, the ones who wanted to fight but never got any further that Mell bridge, the men arrested after the Rising and the famous court case of William McQuillan v DI Carbury.

These lectures are open to the public and everyone is welcome.