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The East Clare Memorial Committee’s annual wreath-laying ceremonies will take place in Tuamgraney and Scariff on Easter Sunday.
Events take place at the East Clare Memorial Park in Tuamgraney and at Scariff Church and continue the long-standing tradition in East Clare of annually commemorating the Easter Rising and the struggle for independence over decades.
This year, the ceremonies will place a special focus on the role of women in the revolution, to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Cumann na mBan in 1914.
The memory of one of the county’s most active Cumann na mBan women, Nan Hogan, will be acknowledged when her relatives will lay a wreath in Tuamgraney.
The memorial park in the village is the only memorial in Clare to publicly acknowledge Cumann na mBan.
Nan Hogan was the O/C of the second battalion of the East Clare Brigade and was one of the most committed republicans in the county. She was interred in 1923 and died a year later, having undergone hunger strikes in jail, which compromised her health.
Local county councillor, Pat Hayes will this year address both Easter commemorations and will draw attention to the role played by Cumann na mBan in the struggle and, in particular, the role played by the organisation in East Clare.
“I’m proud to have been chosen to address the commemorations this year. I’ve been a member of the East Clare Memorial committee for many years and believe strongly in the need to remember those who fought for Irish freedom in the past. It is great to have a focus on Cumann na mBan this year and to highlight the often-forgotten part women played in securing our liberty,” he said.
Tomás Mac Conmara, a member of the East Clare Memorial Committee who was recently selected to speak at the national Cumann na mBan conference in Dublin, is asking anyone with family tradition regarding the organisation to make contact with him on 087 9160373.
The wreath-laying ceremonies will take place in Tuamgraney at 10.30am and in Scariff at 12.30am. All are welcome.
