I’m writing this from Dublin where I’m attending some of the events celebrating 100 years since the Easter Rising. The Rising has a complicated legacy–too much so to enter into here. We’ll explore some of this during our trip. But over the years, the nature of the commemorations of the “insurrection” tells us a lot about Ireland’s transformation during this time. Initially, the Rising was commemorated mainly as as a military event. Those who served and died in 1916 were accorded almost saintlike stature, their families and descendants honored accordingly and given considerable say in what happened during the celebrations, Politics played a huge role, and the party in power determined how the ceremonies went, who sat where, and how the story of the Rising was told. A narrow definition of the Rising and of what it means to be Irish prevailed. The fiftieth anniversary opened things up a bit, with the then Taioseach (prime minister) Seán Lemass (one of my heroes) using the occasion to portray Ireland as a modern, progressive nation leading the way to European unification, excelling at industry, and moving towards rapprochement with Northern Ireland. During the Troubles in Northern Ireland (1968-1998), the military aspect of the commemorations was toned down for fear of inciting further violence. The signing of the Good Friday Peace Agreement and its ratification in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland in 1998 made it possible to take a fresh look at the past.

Only in the last several decades have historians begun to question and debate everything about the Rising and to challenge the party line. An absolute flood of scholarship, books, films, exhibits, and more has, in the words of historian Diarmaid Ferriter, “complicated the story” of the Eastern Rising–and rightly so. Such a momentous event deserves nothing less. This weekend’s festivities were marked by a step back from politicization, a welcoming of debate, and the embrace of language celebrating diversity and inclusion. Here are the words spoken by Fr. Séamus Madigan at the General Post Office commemoration today.

Look kindly we pray, on the people of Ireland, from all traditions, at home and abroad. Help us listen and respond to the voices that challenge in 2016 as we reimagine our future. Conscious of our troubled past, ‘To you O God, we sing a new song;’ a song of compassion, inclusion and engagement, a song of listening, social justice and respect for all, a song of unity, diversity, equality and peace, a song of Céad Mile Fáilte and of care for our environment. With you O Lord, we long to sing our new song in a spirit of true freedom.

Just a bit more on our Dublin hotel. For a few days we will be living next door to Oscar Wilde, or at least, next door to the house where Oscar grew up, and next door to a wonderful statue paying tribute to him in Merrion Square, one of Dublin’s beautiful Georgian squares. The Wilde home is now an outpost of an American college (shall we find one of these for Agnes Scott?) but looks pretty much as it did in Oscar’s day. The statue, located in a corner of the gorgeous park in the square’s center, is one of Dublin’s best and most unusual. Danny Osborne, an Irish sculptur, chose the casual pose and used colored stone–including several kinds of Jade, thulite, and granite–to capture Wilde’s colorful personality.  I especially love the pillars in the foreground with some of Wilde’s famous sayings etched on them in the handwriting of famous Irish people. If you haven’t read any Wilde, his comic play The Importance of Being Earnest is probably a good place to start. I didn’t “assign” him for our trip because his works are not really about Ireland. But his wit and critical eye definitely have roots in Irish culture. Speaking of wit, all Dublin statues have risqué nicknames–better conveyed in person than written in a serious blog!

Click on the pictures to see them enlarged!

As I mentioned in my earlier email, I am currently in Dublin to attend some of the events celebrating the Easter Rising of 1916. I’m staying across the street from the hotel where we will spend our first nights of the trip, The Davenport, and thought I’d tell you a bit about it, as it has an interesting history. Built in 1863 as a church to accommodate the Plymouth Brethren, the building held 3000 seated, many more standing, and served as a church or prayer hall. Eventually abandoned, it was used as a film location until a fire in 1990 gutted it. Then it was restored as The Davenport Hotel, opening in 1993. The Davenport is in a great location on the lovely Merrion Square across from the Oscar Wilde statue and a short walk from Trinity College, the National Museum (history and archaeology), the National Gallery (visual art), and Grafton Street, Dublin’s main shopping area.

Across the street from the hotel (in fact, you can see the yellow facade of the hotel in the photo at right) is Sweny’s Pharmacy,  one of the many buildings in Dublin whose mention in the works of James Joyce has saved from oblivion. An important stop for Leopold Bloom on his walk through Dublin  in Ulysses, Sweny’s is now a lovely Joyce center with daily readings of his works, books for sale, and lots of atmosphere. Joyce fans will want to drop by while we are in Dublin.

Welcome to the web site for the Agnes Scott Alumnae Trip to Ireland 2016. This site is managed by Christine Cozzens, Agnes Scott faculty member and trip leader. Here you will find all kinds of resources for our trip, including documents and online resources. Additions to the site will be noted on this home page, and all resources will be accessible via the menu at the top right.  Click on those tabs now to see what is already posted.  If you want to ask a question or leave comment, use the comment feature. I’m looking forward to seeing Ireland with you in June!

In the Online Resources section, I’ve added two sites I haven’t previously sent out: an eight minute film about the Easter Rising, and a link to the blog I wrote while living in Ireland in 2014-15. I hope you enjoy them.