INFORMATION NOTICE FOR INVITED GUESTS
State Ceremonial Event at Abbey Square, Enniscorthy
Introduction
Synchronised wreath-laying ceremonies will be held at a number of locations across the State at 1.15 p.m., on 28th March, 2016 to commemorate all those who gave their lives in the Easter 1916 Rising, in the cause of Irish Freedom.
The Enniscorthy State Ceremonial Event will take place at Abbey Square and will commence at 12.15 p.m. The event will include the reading of the Proclamation by a member of the Defence Forces, a wreath-laying ceremony, a Minute of Silence, a Piper’s Lament, the Last Post played by a bugler from the Defence Forces, the Raising of the National Flag, Reveille played by a bugler from the Defence Forces and the playing of the National Anthem.
Arrival Time and Directions for Guests
Guests are requested to arrive at Abbey Square before 11.45 a.m. It may not be possible to accommodate guests who arrive after 12 noon in the designated area for invited guests and those who arrive after this time may be directed to the public area instead.
Please bring your invitation with you and, on arrival, the stewards will direct you to your seat. Please dress for inclement weather as there will be no covered seats.
The State Ceremonial Event is expected to conclude at approximately 1.30 p.m.
If you require special assistance on the day – please let us know when you are replying to the invitation.
Travelling to Abbey Square
PARKING
All Wexford County Council parking will be free on Monday March 28th. However
parking restrictions will be in place and will be enforced.
N30 Waterford/New Ross direction: 1798 Centre and The Rugby Club, The Show grounds
N11 Dublin Direction: Mart on the Old Dublin Rd, The Showground’s, Bellefield GAA
N11 Wexford direction: St. Senan’s, Island Rd 1 & 2,
Mart on old Dublin Rd
East Side (Oulart / Backwater): Shamrock GAA, S.t Senan’s National
School, St. Senan’s Church, Oulart Rd, Railway Sq.
PARK ‘N’ RIDE
A park ‘n ride facility will be provided at the Mart on the Old Dublin Rd
A shuttle bus facility will run between the Mart and Irish St / Barrack St
DISABLED BADGE PARKING
Parking for holders of the Blue Disabled Parking badges will be available in Slaney Place & the AIB Car park, The extension of Slaney Place leading to Xtravision
Blue Disabled Parking badges must be displayed
ROAD CLOSURES
In order to facilitate the event the following roads will be closed:
- The N30 lane of the N11 & the left hand lane of the N11 from the east
side( Spring Valley) junction of the Seamus Rafter bridge and N11(Mill Park Rd) to the Castle Hill roundabout 6am – 5pm.
The entire N11 circuit over both bridges will be held for 20 minutes from 13.10 for the official ceremony ie Laying of wreaths, Minute’s Silence, Buglers & pipers,
National Anthem
- The Promenade (L-6500-1) from the junction with Mill Yard Lane to the junction with N11 6am – 12 midnight
- Mill Park Rd – from the junction with Parnell Rd (Arnolds Cross) to the Junction
with Castle Hill 6am – 5pm – local & emergency access will be maintained as far as junction with Mill Yard Lane & Friary Hill,
- Friary Place (L-6508 – 1) – from the junction of Friary Hill to the junction with
Castle Hill 6am – 5pm
- R702 Cathedral S.t/Main St./Castle/Castle Hill/Abbey Square – from the junction of Cathedral St & Duffry Hill all the way down to Abbey Square 6am – 5pm
- R702 Weaver St – from the junction with Duffry Hill to the junction with Castle
Hill 6am to 5pm
- Slaney Place – to facilitate disabled badge holders parking 6am – 5pm
- The extension of Slaney Place leading to Xtravision
PARKING SUSPENSIONS & RESTRICTIONS (from 6am to 5pm March 28th
unless otherwise notified)
Slaney Place & AIB Carpark, Friary S.t Carpark, Abbey Sq. car park (N30), Supervalu Carpark, Abbey Sq., Abbey Quay – both sides, Irish St., Mill Park Rd., Mill Park Lane
Mill Park Lane Car park closed, Parking in front of Credit Union, Cathedral St
Fairview Terrace, Spout Lane, Main St, Castle Hill, Weafer St. R890 from The Duffry to Arnolds Cross.
The Promenade from 7pm Sunday March 27th.
Private buses will be directed to park out at the WFC Mart on the Old Dublin Rd.
When you arrive at Abbey Square, you will be greeted by stewards who will guide you to your seat. If you are travelling by public transport, you can take the train to Enniscorthy Station or alternatively you can take Bus Éireann or Wexford Bus. Further information is available from www.irishrail.ie, www.buseireann.ie and www.wexfordbus .com.
Associated Events
Wexford County Council is encouraging widespread public attendance and have organised a number of events on 28th March 2016, to complement the State Ceremonial Event.
The programme includes:
Backroads to the Rising (Early Morning)
Is a community walk/cycling event devised by artists Aileen Lambert and Michael Fortune and inspired by the journeys undertaken by men and women from throughout County Wexford during the 1916 Rising. Today, community groups and individuals will participate in the project by travelling the five different routes from across the county to converge in Enniscorthy for the Commemoration Ceremony.
The five routes are:
Route 1 – The Seamus Rafter Route: Ballindaggin to Enniscorthy (cyclists starting in Bunclody)
Route 2 – The Séan Etchingham Route: Ferns to Enniscorthy (cyclists starting in Gorey)
Route 3 – The Lar Redmond Route: Oulart to Enniscorthy (cyclists starting in Kilmuckridge)
Route 4 – The Úna Brennan Route: Oilgate to Enniscorthy (cyclists starting in Wexford town)
Route 5 – The Philip Lennon Route: Clonroche to Enniscorthy (cyclists starting in New Ross)
All participants will arrive in Abbey Square, Enniscorthy for 11.00am.
This project is supported by Wexford County Council and Enniscorthy Municipal District.
More information at www.backroadstotherising.com
10.00a.m. – 11.00a.m. Commissioned video pieces- to be shown on large screens prior to official parade
Bandages and Bullets
Bandages and Bullets is a short documentary commissioned by Wexford County Council that explores the role of Cumann na mBan in the Easter Rising in Enniscorthy. The film was made by Terence White and involved members of County Wexford Youth Film Project in crew roles. The film will be on display in the Athenaeum 1916 Exhibition.
1916 Stories:
1916 Stories is a body of short films based on personal and un-documented histories and stories of the 1916 Rising in Wexford, commissioned by Wexford County Council and researched and made by Michael Fortune. The films bring to life stories that have been lost in the midst of time or only known by immediate relatives. The films will be on display in the Athenaeum 1916 Exhibition. More information at www.1916stories.com
11.00a.m. – 11.30a.m
Enniscorthy Choral Society will sing a series of suitable songs as people arrive and assemble in Abbey Square.
11.30 a.m. Centenary Parade in Enniscorthy
- A 1916 Centenary Parade will take place from St. Aidan’s Cathedral to the Seamus Rafter Statue in Abbey Square. The Parade will be led by a Defence Forces National Colour Party and the Army Band and will be followed by:
- National and local elected representative and officials,
- Representatives from the Irish United Nations Veterans Association and the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen;
- Relatives of Participants of the 1916 Rising;
- London Wexford Association;
- Colman’s Pipe Band, Ballindaggin;
- Enniscorthy and Other Re-enactment Societies (1916);
- County Wexford Pikemen;
- Military Vehicles.
1.40 p.m. Abbey Square
- Performance of the 1916 Commemorative Songs Project commissioned by Wexford County Council.
A traditional song project devised and produced by Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert involving ten of Ireland’s finest traditional singers who researched and wrote new songs based on the events of 1916. Today, three of the Wexford participants, Paddy Berry, Paul O’Reilly and Aileen Lambert will perform a selection of songs from the project which includes Paul O’ Reilly’s anthem-like The Rise of Wexford Volunteers, and Aileen Lambert’s lament in honour May Moran of Church Street, Enniscorthy.
- Recitation of the 1916 Commemorative Poem.
Wexford County Council commissioned renowned poet, Anthony Cronin to write a poem ‘What’s the news’ commemorating County Wexford’s involvement in the 1916 Rising. This commemorative poem is being performed in public for the first time today by Judy Heffernan.
- Battle Re-enactment, Super Valu Car Park. (2.30 pm)
Ireland’s largest 1916 era Battle Re-enactment will recreate the pivotal events which led to Enniscorthy’s involvement in the 1916 rising. These include the formation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and Cumman na mBan in 1914, the impact of the outbreak of WWI on the Volunteer movement and the historic visits of proclamation signatories Padraig Pearse and Sean Seán Mac Diarmada to the town. Spectators will experience what life was like during the 1916 era and will experience the sights and sounds of battle during the pinnacle of the re-enactment when Irish Volunteers and Cumman na mBan members will lead an assault on an RIC Barracks defended by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
3.15 p.m. Closing of Ceremonies
Further Information
The State Ceremonial Event in Enniscorthy is part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. Further details in relation to the seven strands of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and the full range of varied events, initiatives outlined under each strand can be found on the website www.ireland.ie .
Further information regarding the local programme of events and the Enniscorthy State Ceremonial Event can be found on the following sites:
Ireland.ie/
enniscorthy1916.ie
