Mourneabbey book and DVD on 1916

Mourneabbey Heritage Association have completed their 1916 centenary project and have published a book and DVD set in conjunction with Mourneabbey Parish’s Commemoration and Celebration of the centenary of the 1916 Rising which took place on Saturday evening 23rd April and on Sunday 24th April 2016.

The book is the fourth on the history of Mourneabbey, the others being ‘A History of Mourneabbey (The Abbey)’ by Patrick O’Regan 1901, ‘The Hope and the Sadness, Personal Recollections Of Troubled Times In Ireland’ by Siobhán Lankford 1980 and ‘Of School and Scholars – Analeentha N.S. 1889 – 1989, A century and more of education at Analeentha, Mourneabbey’. Clyda Rovers G.A.A. Club has published three books on its history, in 1984, 1996 and 2013.

The first seven chapters of of ‘Mourneabbey 1916 and The Republican Ideal’ traces the influence of events surrounding the foundation of the United States of America and the French Revolution on the growth of the Irish Republican Ideal. Particular attention is paid to developments which took place in Cork and Mourneabbey and the pivotal role played by a great son of Mourneabbey, Tomás Mac Curtáin, in all of them, leading up to the 1916 Rising and in its aftermath.

The importance of women in the 1916 Rising is fully discussed and important women of the rising are featured, acknowledging that only now at the centenary of the rising, is the role of women fully appreciated.

There is also a summary of the Parish Centenary Celebrations of the 1916 Rising with photographs. The DVD accompanying the book records these celebrations which includes the laying of a wreath at the birthplace of Tomás Mac Curtain in Ballyknockane, an oration and raising of the flag of 1916 ’Irish Republic’ at the War of Independence Memorial at ‘The Abbey, the raising of the National Flag at the Community Centre and the Show ‘ Mourneabbey 1916 and The Republican Ideal’ in the Centre