The people of Dublin\u2019s Northside played a major role in the rebellion and to this day relatives of those who fought or died in 1916 still live and work in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March 2016 Near TV visited local groups to witness their celebrations of the most important event in the history of our country and Near TV has put together this special programme as part of their contribution to the 1916 Commemorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the 1200 or so people who actually turned out in April 1916 almost 300 of them were trade unionists and fully trained members of the Irish Citizens Army. As part of the Five Lamps Arts Festival, SIPTU, the largest Trade Union in Ireland unveiled plaques around the city to commemorate the Irish Citizen Army and Near TV followed them from Liberty Hall to Marino College to see the first plaque unveiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They then visited the Sean O\u2019Casey Community Centre in East Wall and spoke with locals who had assisted in the Gallery of Photography\u2019s \u2018Reflecting 1916\u2019 Exhibition. Then, in a new twist to the Dublin \u2018One City One Book\u2019 Festival, Dublin and Belfast have joined together in a \u2018Two Cities One Book\u2019 initiative as part of Dublin\u2019s 2016 commemoration programme and Near TV went to
St. Stephen\u2019s Green for the launch of this Festival and spoke with Lia Mills the author of this year\u2019s chosen book \u2018Fallen\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Near TV then visited the Ambassador Theatre where they were given a guided tour of the \u2018Revolution 1916\u2019 Exhibition by the Curator, Bartle D\u2019Arcy. This is a fantastic exhibition of 1916 artefacts, with over 500 items on display and a series of sets of actual places and events of the time and is running in the Ambassador till October 2016. Near FM also played their part in the commemorations, one of the events were the \u2018Women of 1916\u2019 Library Talks where Near FM in partnership with the Coolock Library and in association with the
Northside Community Law Centre presented a three part series about women and social justice in 1916, and Near TV were there to record some footage each evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Near TV then spoke with members of the Cabra Historical Society as they re-enacted the events of 1916 at the GPO, and they also chatted with Frank Shouldice, Junior and Snr, about the book Frank Junior has written entitled \u2018Grandpa, The Sniper\u2019, which reflects on his grandfather\u2019s involvement in the 1916 Rising as a sniper for the rebels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n