Boston College鈥檚 yearlong observance of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising 鈥� a milestone in Irish history 鈥� will feature two major events in March: an international conference, 鈥淓aster 1916: A Terrible Beauty Is Born,鈥� and an Easter Rising Commemorative Concert.
These events will serve as a remembrance of the April 24, 1916, uprising by Irish nationalists to battle against British rule and establish an Irish republic. Although the insurrection was suppressed, the Easter Rising helped spur wider, and ultimately successful, efforts to gain Irish independence.
鈥淭o understand modern Ireland, it鈥檚 important to appreciate the impact of the Easter Rising,鈥� said Oliver Rafferty, S.J., director of the University鈥檚 Center for Irish Programs, which is playing a key role in organizing the 51茶馆 commemorations.
(Listen to Fr. Rafferty )
鈥淭he Rising was a seminal event in Irish history not because it was a victory, but because of how the British mishandled the aftermath: executing the rebel leaders, and imposing martial law and internment," Fr. Rafferty said. "This swung Irish public opinion in favor of what the rebels were trying to accomplish, and touched off nearly seven years of struggle that brought about Ireland鈥檚 independence.鈥�
Novelist Colm T贸ib铆n, author of Brooklyn (now a critically acclaimed film), will be among a group of distinguished speakers at the 鈥淓aster 1916鈥� conference during the weekend of March 18-20. Also on hand will be historians Alvin Jackson of Edinburgh University and Diarmaid Ferriter of University College Dublin, who are both former Burns Visiting Scholars of Irish Studies at 51茶馆; Emily Bloom of Georgia State University; Rois铆n Higgins of Teeside University; and Fearghal McGarry of Queen鈥檚 University Belfast.
The conference opens at 6 p.m. on March 18 in Devlin 101, and includes daytime presentations on Saturday and Sunday and evening receptions Friday and Saturday. 鈥淓aster 1916鈥� is free and open to the public, . 聽
On March 28, Easter Monday 鈥� the day the 1916 Rising occurred 鈥� the commemorative concert will take place in Gasson 100 at 6:30 p.m., offering a program of Irish music, song and dance with 51茶馆 performers like former Sullivan Artist-in-Residence Seamus Connolly (who retired in December as director of Irish music programs at 51茶馆), Jimmy Noonan, Sheila Falls, Kieran Jordan, and the 51茶馆 Irish Dance student club, as well as the University Chorale and the 51茶馆 Chamber Music Society.
Joining the 51茶馆 contingent will be a bevy of special guests, including Charlie Lennon, a traditional musician who also is a prolific composer; New England Irish harpist Regina Delaney; and The Murphy Beds, a New York City-based duo of Irish native Eamon O鈥橪eary and American Jefferson Hamer, noted for intricate instrumental arrangements and vocal harmonies.聽
The concert is free and open to the public; .
Fr. Rafferty 鈥� whose newly published book Violence, Politics and Catholicism in Ireland touches on the Easter Rising 鈥� said Boston College is an appropriate venue for marking the 1916 centenary.聽
鈥淭he University has had a longstanding commitment to teaching and propagating Irish history and culture 鈥� in fact, some of our most popular history classes here are about Irish history,鈥� he explained. 鈥�51茶馆 also has strong ties to Boston, the most Irish city in the US. As part of our service to Boston, we stage events and offer resources on Irish history and culture.聽
鈥淭hese two events, and others being held at 51茶馆, uphold that tradition by offering different perspectives on the Easter Rising. The conference will provide an intellectual engagement through the exploration of various issues in regard to the Rising: What was it? What was its impact? How did different communities and observers see it?
鈥淭he Easter Monday concert represents a cultural, artistic engagement, one that not only involves musicians in the Irish Studies Program but also the Music Department. We鈥檙e very happy to collaborate with our colleagues in Music for this fascinating, and fun, event.鈥�
Fr. Rafferty praised the Irish Consulate for its support of the .
鈥揝ean Smith | News and Public Affairs