The Mansion House and the First Dail
This year saw the 100th anniversary of the first sitting of Dáil Eireann. The Irish Flag stood proudly beside President Michael D. Higgins, the Ceann Comhairle Sean O’Fearghail and the Cathaoirleach Denis O’Donovan on that occasion, as it stands every day in the Round Room of the Mansion House.
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of self-democratic rule in the state, the Flag stands strong as a symbol of our people. President Higgins, speaking on the occasion of the anniversary of the First Dail, echoed the principles of the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation as he said “Let us instead explore our past with open hearts and open minds, respecting all of the traditions that exist or endure on our island of migrant peoples.”
The Foundation encourages us all, especially school children to learn about our own history and explore the extraordinary story of Thomas F. Meagher. It wants the next generation to see the flag as that symbol of “open hearts and open minds”. In its mission statement, it asks the “young people of Ireland, irrespective of ethnicity, creed or gender to work together under the Irish Tricolour and live its message of peace and unity”.
The Round Room is Ireland’s oldest purposebuilt events venue, originally built in 1821 to welcome King George IV to Dublin as there was no venue in the city deemed suitable to welcome a King.
Throughout the years, since King George’s visit, the Round Room has proudly welcomed high-profile guests from across the globe including Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Queen Victoria, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco. It was in the Round Room, in 1919 that the first sitting of Dail Eireann was held, marking the first definitive parliamentary move for Home Rule.
Seventy of the elected Irish representatives did not attend Westminister but were in Dublin for the first parliamentary meeting ever held in Ireland instead.
On Monday, January 21, 2019, the centenary of the 1st sitting of Dail Eireann at the Round Room of the Mansion House was marked with a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
This was followed by a State Reception hosted by the Department of An Taoiseach across the entire Mansion House complex; The Round Room, The Oak Room and The Supper Room (FIRE Restaurant & Lounge since 2005). The Mansion House has a flexible six-space purpose designed events venue that has successfully played a part in making Dublin such a vibrant urban destination, identifying events as a key catalyst for the city’s development of tourism, retail and leisure.
The grandeur of the timeless 18th-century setting combined with a recent restoration and cutting-edge technology, guarantees to impress everyone who walks through the doors.