Remembering the 1916 women
By Maurice Garvey
ST JOSEPH’S College in Lucan created a mural commemorating brave women involved in the Easter Rising, reports Maurice Garvey.
Historian Liz Gillis, author of Women of the Irish Revolution, officially opened the ceramic Mná Cróga mural at the school on April 14.
Second Year students created lino prints of women involved in the Rising for the project.
Ceramic artist Niamh Synnott teamed up with St Josephs 1916 Committee, including history teachers Mairéad McGroarty, Michael Smyth and art teacher Niamh Garvey for the collaboration.
Synnott worked with the 28 students to design and create a ceramic mural based on the women of the 1916 Rising.
The all-girls school felt historically that women of the Rising have not been celebrated to the same extent as men, and created the mural to honour the sacrifice, courage and bravery of those forgotten women.
The 1916 Committee visited Collins Barracks and had a number of follow-up workshops back in the school.
They narrowed down their focus to seven women, Countess Markievicz, Helena Molony, Kathleen Clarke, Rosie Hackett, Winnie Carney, Kathleen Lynn and Elizabeth O’Farrell. Construction of the project began in February – the mural was cut into sections, dried, fired, glazed, re-fired, and installed as a permanent artwork on campus.
Lino prints were created by Second Year students Rebecca Carey, Amelia Herbaczewska, Onosen Ikhide, Lily O’Reilly, Laura Owens, Clara Sheils and Gabriela Trojner.
The project was supported by Creative Engagement, South Dublin County Council, Dublin Bus, Glasnevin Trust, Dr Maurice Manning (NUI), An Post Museum, School Tour Company, Lucan Credit Union, History Department, UCD, Gael Linn, Councillor Paul Gogarty and Roisín Ní Ghairbhí.
