NEW Frongoch and 1916 Exhibitions Launched in Dublin
Tuesday December 6, 2016 - the 94th anniversary of the establishment of the Irish Free State - saw a wonderful launch of "Frongoch and 1916: Recreating a Lost Landscape" at National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History. This series of exhibitions has been made possible through the generous support of the Reconciliation Fund of the Irish Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland) The exhibitions commemorate the internment of Irish prisoners at the Frongoch internment camp, Wales, in the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Archivist and Cultural Commentator Catriona Crowe officially launched the exhibitions, along with DRI Director Natalie Harrower, Director of National Library of Ireland Sandra Collins, Director of the National Museum Raghnall O'Floinn, Chief Executive of the National Library Wales Linda Tomos and Project Creative Lead for Inspiring Ireland Caroline McGee. The launch was attended by staff from the cultural institutions, as well as press, colleagues, friends and family members of some of the original Frongoch inmates. (Banner image L to R: Caroline McGee, Natalie Harrower, Raghnall Ó Floinn, Catriona Crowe, Linda Tomos, Sandra Collins) Read the press release here
The launch also saw the screening of a short documentary about"Freakshow” a new piano score inspired by the writing of journalist Lyn Ebenezer on the history of Frongoch which became known as 'ollscoil na réabhlóide', University of the Revolution. This work was commissioned from emerging Irish composer Sam Perkin by Rhian Davies, Artistic Director of Wales' oldest classical music festival, the Gregynog Festival, as part of its 2016 Éire season. "Freakshow" received its Irish premiere performance on December 2, 2016 during the Fidelio Trio's Winter Music Festival in Belvidere House, Dublin City University.
View the "Freakshow" Documentary
Read/view media coverage of the launch:
RTÉ Nuacht (starts at 8:10)
TG4 Nuacht (starts 13:10)
LAUNCH PHOTOS (Paul Sherwood)
Images courtesy of Rhian Davies, Gregynog Festival