Galwayman behind 1916 commemorations heads new strategy group
The Galwayman who spearheaded the 1916 centenary programme has been appointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to head up the country’s new five-year cultural strategy.
John Concannon was Failte Ireland’s Director of Marketing and Development when he was seconded in 2014 to coordinate the Rising’s year of commemorative events.
The whole project had been shrouded in criticism over a perceived lack of action following three years of consultative meetings involving TDs, senators, historical experts and civil servants.
There was also widespread disquiet among the relatives of those involved in the rebellion, claiming they had not been adequately consulted.
John was directly involved in The Gathering in 2013 and had been consulted when devising schedules for the visits of Queen Elizabeth and US President Barack Obama.
At the end of 2016, you could almost hear the marketing impresario breathe a sigh of relief.
“Considering the anxiety two years ago when it was launched - politically, academically, among relatives and the media - it turned out to be a very positive thing for the country,” he reflects.
He believes it had a profound effect on three major areas. Firstly, Ireland’s whole sense of identity, epitomised by the flag project in schools where inclusivity was wholeheartedly embraced.
Secondly, the participation of citizens in every part of the country – some 3,500 community events were organised across the land with 1,000 events taking place overseas.
The third element was the cultural richness that emerged, as told through narrative, drama and documentary.
“Galway hugely stepped up to the plate, it had a really, really strong programme in city and county. In Galway we really had just a really, really strong sense of community energy throughout the year.”
Two of the major highlights of the entire national programme took place in Athenry.
The first on Easter Monday at Athenry Castle to mark the first shots which rang out in the west during the Rising, where rebels held the largest territory outside of Dublin.
One of only four locations outside of Dublin to host a State ceremony, more than 5,000 people joined the relatives of the Galway men and women of 1916 for the synchronized wreath-laying and parade with significant numbers of the defence forces taking park and a fly past by the Air Corps.
The biggest surprise was the Teagasc exhibition which attracted 60,000 to the North Galway town in June for the two-day Farming and Country Life 1916.
John describes it as the Ploughing Championships of the West.
Capturing the imagination of all generations, there was overwhelmingly positive feedback to the seven distinct villages which were a hive of activity reminiscent of era, with music, dance and drama, livestock, machinery and history. There were exhibition GAA games in 1916 attire, a sports day with traditional children’s games and re-enactments of evictions, schoolhouse and cottage.
Another national highlight of the programme was a free international conference at NUIG about the ‘promise and challenge of national sovereignty’, with lectures by academics from Princeton and Oxford universities, states John.
“We had 5.5m impressions [on the website] from all over the world, it was trending for the week on Twitter. It was absolutely fantastic.”
As other events of note, John singles out the exhibition at the Galway City Museum, the Eamonn Ceannt piper festival and the outdoor showing of the world premiere screening of the feature-length version of 1916 The Rebellion, narrated by Liam Neeson, at the Spanish Arch. The father of three was recently announced as the head of Creative Ireland, a five-year cultural strategy launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, which will be the legacy of the 1916 year of commemoration.
The programme will give every young person in the country an opportunity to learn music, drama, art and coding. It includes a pilot scheme to help self-employed artists who applied for job seekers’ allowance and a new annual cultural day to be held on Easter Monday.
A culture team for every local authority nationwide will be established. Plans are being laid for an investment programme for Ireland’s cultural and heritage bodies and for developing Ireland as a worldwide hub for film, TV drama and animation.
The programme office is being set up within the Department of Arts under the leadership of John, who will be tasked with coordinating the different organisations and agencies.
It will have an initial budget allocation of €5 million, some of which will go towards cultural events such as Cruinniú na Cásca on Easter Monday.