Magnificent GPO Experience launched at County Museum

It was a magical occasion, laced with historical 1916 remembrance at the County Museum last Thursday evening when the majestic GPO re-creation was unveiled by the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys.

Check out a video of the walk-through here:

A large crowd thronged into the Peace Garden at the Museum to see the ‘Rising Experience’, which is approprieately, in close proximity to the WWI Trench Experience. Various actors, dressed in keeping with that era mingled with the crowd. The exhibition is most enlightening and features a reflective space. As one guest commented in passing, it breathes life into the Rising, lifting it from the history pages.
Amongst the dignitaries in attendance were the Fine Gael chairman of Cavan County Council, Paddy Smith; the County Manager, Tommy Ryan; Liam Scott from the Heritage Council, Tom Sullivan, chairman of Cavan’s 1916 Centenary Committee and Noel Connell, chairman of the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District. The various speakers were introduced by museum curator Savina Donohoe.
Minister Humphreys said that the museum had “surpassed all expectations and was punching well above its weight with this hugely impressive exhibition”.
She added of the experience, “here in the County Cavan Museum, you tell the story of a shared history in a very unique way”, and commended all those involved.
Crosserlough Battalion
Fittingly, the relatives and friends of the Crosserlough Battalion of the Old IRA 1916 to 1921 presented a tricolour to Cllr Paddy Smith. The Crosserlough Battalion included companies Lavey, Mountnugent, Crosserlough, Crosskeys, Drumkilly, Kilnaleck and Ballyjamesduff.
Ms Donohoe noted that the Ballinagh Company assisted the Crosserough Battalion.
The members of Post 15 Cavan UN Veterans looked resplendent in their uniforms and folded the tricolour with the sense of dignity becoming the occasion.
The official welcome was delivered by Cllr Smith, as the sunset cascaded rays of light onto the magnificent facade of the GPO ediface. “Cavan County Council and the County Museum have brought history to life,” he said, congratulating Ms Donohoe and Dr Michael Finnegan.
Great credit, he said, was also due to engineer Kevin Sexton and his staff, and the staff in the museum, who had worked tirelessly on the project.

Musical celebration
Beautiful music filled the still evening air courtesy of the fantastic young musicians from St Clare’s College in Ballyjamesduff.
A number of students who studied the Proclamation came to the rostrum to outline their dreams and aspirations for Ireland today. It was entitled ‘A Proclamation for a New Generation’.
Council CEO Tommy Ryan said that the County Museum was an example of what could be achieved with “fearless determination and teamwork”. “What you see here has been executed with historical accuracy, which is really important, artistic vision and attention to detail. It will stand the test of time,” he remarked, heaping praise on all involved.
He added that the entire project put the visitor at the heart of the Rising, so that they could experience what it was like to be involved in the 1916 rebellion. He also acknowledged the work of Eoin Doyle, director of services and the staff at Community and Enterprise Section and Ann Marie Ward, the heritage officer in the County Council. Liam Scott from the Heritage Council also addressed the gathering, describing the event as “particularly evocative and impressive”.