| dc.description.abstract | Outside of Dublin city and county, the rest of Ireland witnessed very little action by
the Irish Volunteers during the course of the 1916 Rising. One of the exceptions was
the West of Ireland, where rebel activity in County Galway was coordinated by Liam
Mellows. During Easter Week, he managed to rally his troops in the county and carry
out offensive operations in Clarenbridge and Oranmore, before retreating to Moyode
Castle and finally disbanding at Limepark House. As the centenary anniversary of
this seminal event approaches, recent debates have centered not only on the Rising’s
historical significance, but on its contemporary political, cultural and economic
importance. This study - which focuses on illuminating local histories, memories and
heritage tourism possibilities - outlines the evolving relationship between the past and
present, through an investigation of the history and remembrance of the story of 1916
throughout Galway city and county. This is done in three ways.
Firstly, this study furnishes a comprehensive local history of Galway’s part in the
Rising. This includes an examination of preceding events in the context of the broader
militarisation of national politics, which took place in the wake of the Third Home
Rule Bill and the outbreak of World War I. As such, the formation of the Irish
Volunteers in Galway and the subsequent split is explored in detail. The significance
of the arrival of Liam Mellows and his efforts to recruit, arm and train the Irish
Volunteers in the region is equally examined. The story of the events of Easter Week
1916 is detailed largely from the perspective of the rank-and-file participant, and as
such, provides a broad understanding of the movements and activities during the
Rising in Galway. The experiences of the rebels arrested, incarcerated, deported and
interned are also examined, alongside Mellows’ period in hiding in County Clare
before his successful escape to America.
The second part of this study investigates how memories of 1916 have found
expression in tangible and intangible forms of heritage throughout the city and
county. It chronicles the anniversary commemorations that have taken place over the
decades, in both Galway city and county and assesses the social and political
developments that have influenced and impacted upon them. The extent to which
remembering and forgetting have influenced acts of memorialisation is equally
explored.
The study concludes by looking towards the forthcoming centenary anniversary of
the Rising. The evolving nature of commemoration is further explored in the context
of the government’s ‘Decade of Commemorations’ programme, which aims to
accommodate the plurality of historical tradition in Ireland in a meaningful and
respectful manner. Finally, as the centenary approaches, this study also outlines the
unfolding heritage tourism opportunities for the retelling of the story of Galway’s
1916 Rising. Two collaborative developments which were partly informed by this
study are examined namely, a museum exhibition and a heritage trail. | en |
