Community Grants for Commemoration of 1916 in Laois Announced
Grants have been announced for community groups and organisations planning to organise events or projects relating to the Centenary of the 1916 Rising.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said “we are delighted with the range and high quality of the applications for this funding. Communities have really worked hard on proposals and we will be supporting historical and cultural activities from concerts and debates to publications, music, and drama. In fact, the quality of applications received was so high that the total grant fund was increased by 20% to over €50,000”.
The Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra working with Martin Tourish on their new composition for 2016.
Picture: Alf Harvey/HRPhoto.ie no reproduction fee
Plans at national level for the commemoration of 1916 include over 2,000 projects and events, under the headings of State Ceremonial, Historical Reflection, The Living Language, Youth and Imagination, Cultural Expression, Community Participation and Global and Diaspora.
The Ireland 2016 Laois Community Grants are being administered by Laois County Council, with funding and support from Ireland 2016, part of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance.
Detail of grants allocated under this programme are below (Groups arranged alphabetically).
| Name of Organisation | Project Title |
Allocation |
| Abbeyleix Heritage Company | Mary O’Shea: A Nurse at Easter 1916, Phase II |
€750.00 |
| Abbeyleix Tidy Towns | Commemorative Seat to remember Laois Connections with 1916, Phase II |
€300.00 |
| Ballyfin National School | 1916 Rising: Two sides to every story |
€300.00 |
| Brendon Deacy | Síoraí: Visualising the words of James Fintan Lalor Today, in Australia |
€3,000.00 |
| Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann Portarlington | Planned Concert & Tree Planting, Phase II |
€700.00 |
| Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann Portlaoise | Seven Signatory Nights |
€750.00 |
| Cullohill Tidy Towns | Honouring the Rebels of 1916 |
€300.00 |
| Dunamaise Arts Centre | 1916: A Centenary on Screen |
€3,000.00 |
| Emo 1916 Commemoration Committee | Emo 1916 Commemoration |
€750.00 |
| Harney School of Speech and Drama | Education Pack for “The Casual Comedy” |
€1,250.00 |
| Killenard Development Committee | Killenard Memorial Garden 1916 – 2016 |
€2,500.00 |
| Kiln Lane Residents Association | Kiln Lane 1916 Commemoration |
€2,500.00 |
| Laois 1916 Commemoration Committee | Publication of 1916 in Laois, and completion of “Mother” film |
€1,000.00 |
| Laois Music Education Partnership | 1916 Visions and Voices, Phase II |
€3,000.00 |
| Laois Partnership | Afterschool Irish History Project |
€1,000.00 |
| Laois Republican Centenary 1916 Committee | A Remembrance of 1916 |
€1,500.00 |
| Laois Youth Theatre | Cherish: A play |
€3,000.00 |
| Maureen Culleton Dance Group | Hurley Dance |
€1,500.00 |
| Mountmellick 1916 – 2016 Easter Commemoration Committee | Creation of a 1916 Commemoration Garden at Derrycloney Bridge, Mountmellick |
€2,500.00 |
| Mountmellick Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann | Children’s Stories from 1916 |
€400.00 |
| Mountmellick Community Arts Centre | 1916 Commemorative Concert |
€2,000.00 |
| Mountmellick Employment Resource | 1916 The Poet’s Rebellion |
€2,000.00 |
| Mountmellick Tidy Towns | Derrycloney 1916-2016 Commemoration |
€500.00 |
| Mountrath Library Local History Society | Mountrath Remembers 1916 – 100 Years on |
€2,000.00 |
| Portarlington 1916 Commemoration Committee | Portarlington 1916 Commemoration Projects |
€1,600.00 |
| Portlaoise Active Retirement Association | “1916 A Terrible Beauty is Born”, Phase II |
€3,000.00 |
| Portlaoise Mens Shed | 2016 First Shots: Re-enactment |
€3,000.00 |
| Portlaoise Parish (in association with CCE Portlaoise) | 1916 Commemoration |
€3,000.00 |
| Raheen 1916 Remembrance Garden Group | 1916 Remembrance Garden Raheen Phase II |
€1,500.00 |
| Rathdowney Tidy Towns | Commemorating the Rising in Rathdowney |
€300.00 |
| Timahoe Heritage Centre | Showcase the Timahoe link to the Rising |
€300.00 |