A lunchtime civic event to mark the Centenary of the 1st Dáil will be held at Cork City Library, Grand Parade next Monday, 21st January.
The text of the Democratic Programme, which was adopted by the Dáil on that day and which reiterates many aspects of the Easter 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, will be read out at the event.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn will speak as will UCC Irish history researcher, Alan McCarthy. Music will be provided by Ceol Coolroe.
An exhibition highlighting Cork’s involvement in the first Dáil will also launch at the event. The exhibition is part of the 2013-2023 ‘It Seems History is to Blame’ series which attempts to build understanding of this pivotal period in Irish history and how we can learn from it.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn said: “The First Dail can be viewed as the culmination of centuries of desire among Irish people to live freely under our own rules. It built upon the ideals of the 1916 Proclamation and set us on a course for independent democracy which is why it is so important to celebrate.”
Cork City Librarian, Liam Ronayne said: “The first Dáil was a huge step in creating a free Ireland by democratic means. It was as significant as the Easter Rising in Irish history and was a hugely symbolic event for the people of Ireland. This Dáil met on a number of occasions before it was halted by the British”.
The event will take place on Monday January 21 at 1pm. Refreshments will be served.
In 1919, candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of the 1918 refused to recognise the UK parliament and instead assembled a revolutionary parliament called Dáil Eireann.
The establishment of the Dáil occurred on the same day that the War of Independence broke out. After the 1921 elections, the First Dáil was succeeded by the Second Dáil of 1921-22.
Most of the 109 members of the first Dáil were participants in the Easter Rising or long-serving nationalists but a number unable to attend that first meeting. In total, the first Dáil had 9 TDs from Cork city and county. JJ Walsh and Liam de Róiste were the Cork City TDs.
