Wales

A number of commemorative events have been taking place in Wales to reflect on the historical events of 1916, with a particular focus on commemorating the internment of Irish prisoners at Frongoch, North Wales.

On 11th June, a community event took place in Frongoch, North Wales to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of some 1,800 Irish prisoners at Frongoch prison camp following the Easter Rising. The event included an exhibition at Ysgol Bro Tryweryn, walking tours of the site and a series of speakers including Ambassador Dan Mulhall. The event, facilitated by Snowdonia National Park Authority, is part of the Cymru’n Cofio Wales Remembers 1914 – 1918 programme of events which commemorates key global events which took place during this period and their impact on communities in Wales.

On 18th June, as part of the GAA’s 1916 commemoration programme, the final of An Bhreatain’s inter-county shield competition was played in Frongoch, North Wales. While held in the Frongoch prison camp in the aftermath of the Easter Rising, Irish prisoners organised inter-hut and inter-county competitions which were all played on a football field the internees named Croke Park. The commemorative game on 18th June was contested by Hertfordshire v Yorkshire and was attended by GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail.

Culture Ireland, as part of its Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, supported the participation of Irish artists at the Gregynog Festival (16-26 June) in Wales. Founded in 1933, Gregynog Festival, which is supported by the Welsh Government, is the oldest extant classical music festival in Wales. The festival’s theme for 2016 was Éire. It explored a wealth of cultural connections between Ireland and Wales. Leading Irish musicians and historians, plus international artists who specialize in performing Irish repertoire, participated in the festival.

On 14th September, an academic conference will take place at Aberystwyth University on ‘The Meanings of 1916 in Ireland and Wales’. The conference is sponsored by the Ireland-Wales Research Network and the Welsh Government as part of the Cymru’n Cofio Wales Remembers 1914 – 1918 programmeand will involve a number of speakers including Ambassador Dan Mulhall. Contact: Prof. Paul O’Leary, Aberystwyth University.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Welsh Government are also supporting a joint project between the National Museum of Ireland, National Library of Ireland, National Museum Wales and National Library Wales to create a digital exhibition that tells the story of Frongoch in 1916.

Culture Ireland, as part of its Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, supported a performance of 'A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing' by Eimear McBride, presented by Corn Exchange in association with Cusack Projects Ltd. at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff from 29 March to 2 April 2016.