Formed in 2013 the Liverpool Easter 1916 Commemoration Committee set itself the task of recording and remembering the role of the Liverpool women and men who participated in defence of the Irish Republic, during the Easter Rising in Dublin, 1916. During 2016, the centenary year of the Rising, the Committee was able offer a wide ranging programme of events throughout Liverpool to highlight Liverpool’s role. Thanks to funding provided by the Irish Government’s Department for Foreign Affairs,  The Heritage Lottery Fund and very generous individual donations these events included a major display at the Museum of Liverpool, a drama which include music and dance detailing the lives of some of the individuals involved, a display in Liverpool Central Library, lectures at the Institute of Irish Studies and elsewhere, and finally a service of remembrance at St Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church attended by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.

One of the Committee’s projects ran slightly over but I am honoured to announce that on Sunday 25th June 2017 at 1.00pm we will finally see the unveiling of the Liverpool Easter Rising Memorial at St Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Scotland Road, Liverpool. The memorial will name individually the Liverpool men and women of the Easter Rising and provide a permanent place of remembrance for these forgotten individuals who played such a major role in the formation of an independent Irish state.
The Committee would like to invite you and members of the public to the official unveiling which will be overseen by Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Archbishop of Liverpool and former parish priest of St Anthony’s, followed by a reception. St Anthony’s Church holds a special place in the history of the Irish in Liverpool and it is fitting that such a memorial will be sited there. Our work has ended and we as a committee would like to thank all of our supporters and friends amongst the communities of Liverpool. Special thanks to all individuals who gave their free time to support and develop the projects and events that have been held to commemorate the Easter Rising during 2016/17. There have been hundreds of people involved.
Special thanks must go to our Chair, Dr Kevin McNamara. Kevin has been the main driving force behind the committee since its inception and his meticulous research of the Liverpool Irish volunteers proved to be invaluable throughout the past 3 years. Also, Kevin’s time as Member of Parliament and his deep love of Ireland ensured that doors that would otherwise have been closed, where in fact opened.
Thanks also to local Irish historian Greg Quirey for leading on the Museum display and the Memorial itself. Other thanks go to our long suffering Treasurer, Liam Walsh, he managed to balance the books!; to Tony Birtill, Liverpool Irish language activist with Conradh na Gailege, for his contribution in highlighting the importance of the Irish language to the Liverpool Irish volunteers of the period; and final thanks go to Peter King and Steve Nolan whose passion, script writing and general all round artistic talents ensured that the ‘Liverpool Lambs’ production was the success it was and that it rightly highlighted the personal sacrifices of the Liverpool Irish who fought for Irish freedom, Easter 1916.  

Neil Doolin
Secretary

Liverpool Easter 1916 Commemoration Committee.