Irish Revival Week - 1916 Easter Rising

2016 is a special year for Ireland as it marks the centenary of a key moment of the Irish independence struggle, the 1916 Easter Rising.

A diverse range of historical, cultural and artistic activities are taking place all around the world this year to mark the occasion. The Embassy is delighted to announce that Korea will form part of this international programme with "Irish Revival Week", a series of talks and film screenings to reflect on the literary achievements of the time and commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Rising. These events will be hosted by Korea University which is also marking the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the College of Liberal Arts.

The cultural movement or "Irish Revival" leading up to the 1916 rising spurred a period of intense debate and activity in Ireland that saw the founding of the Abbey Theatre, the resurgence of interest in Gaelic games and the Irish language,a nd the reimagining of a new Ireland for the twentieth century. Indeed it also had an impact on Korean political and literary thought at the time.

Events:

1. One of the leading experts on the Irish Revival, Professor P.J. Matthews of University College Dublin will be coming to Korea for this event. Prof. Matthews' talk on October 24 at 5pm, entitled "Reading the Revival," Promises an informative and entertaining overview that will appeal to anyone with an interest in this turbulent, yet extraordinary creative period in Ireland's history. Students, teachers, anyone with an interest in literature or history are encouraged to join - all are welcome.
2. Throughout the week the "1916 Rising" exhibition will be on display at Korea University: a detailed recounting of the events before, during, and after the proclamation of a republic and revolt against British rule on Easter Monday 1916.
3. Later that week, on Friday October 28 and Saturday October 29, there will be two opportunities to see how contemporary Irish filmmakers have reflected on this year's centenary, with a series of shorts (all 10 to 15 minutes in length) collectively entitled After '16. The Irish Film Board commissioned this eclectic mixture of animation, live-action features and documentary films just this year. The collection has recently been shown at film festivals in Galway, Boston and Sydney, but this is the first chance for audiences in Seoul to catch it.

Below is further information, including times, venue, and direction, which we will also be posting on our Facebook page.  We hope to see you on the 24^th!