Cork commemorates the Easter Rising
HUNDREDS of walkers who retraced the footsteps of Irish Volunteers to Bweeng last Sunday saluted the 1916 rebels who played a part in the struggle for independence.
The bright weather brought out young and old to mark the historic occasion.
On April 24, 1916 over 300 men from companies from Mourneabbey, Mallow, Kilmona, Whitechurch, Donoughmore, Castletownroche, Courtbrack, Nadd, Lyre and Lombardstown marched to Bweeng where they were addressed by Tomás MacCurtain. Also present were Terence McSwiney, Michael Lynch and Thomas Kent.
The contribution made by the men and women of the area to the 1916 Rising earned plaudits from multitudes in schedule that featured as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.
Spokesman Michael O’Neill related that at Bweeng on April 24, 1916, some 300 Volunteers assembled to collect arms from the ship Aud as part of a mission to distribute guns supplied through the Germans in support of an IRB-planned Rising.
“The vessel was scuttled in Cork Harbour by her crew after being detained by the British Navy off the Kerry coast at Fenit”, he said.
An organising committee in Bweeng headed by Sean Kelly and many others had worked on the event for many months.
The gathering included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, lectures and recitals by the Thomas Davis Pipe Band and children from the parish.
County Mayor Cllr. John Paul O’Shea lauded those involved on the re-enactment, many of whom were descendants and neighbours of those that marched 100 years ago.
“1916 was a year of great sacrifice where people stood up for Ireland and Bweeng played a major part in the Rising as remembered in this commemoration”, said the County Mayor.
The Bweeng commemorations came amidst events also in Mallow (See page 23) and Mourneabbey (see Notes pages) while a further significant event was held in Tullylease (See page 14).