‘Mná Cróga 1916’
Celebrating the bravery of the women of the 1916 Rising
This year our History & Art Departments undertook a very exciting collaboration. Ceramic Artist Niamh Synnott returned to St. Joseph’s College in October 2015 to meet a group of Transition Year students that had joined the 1916 Committee. Niamh worked with the 28 students to design and create a ceramic mural based on the women of the 1916 Rising.
Historically women of the Rising have not been celebrated to the same extent as men. As an all- girls school, we felt that our commemorative mural will, daily, remind students, teachers, parents and visitors to the school, of the legacy we owe to the sacrifice, courage and bravery of those forgotten women, one hundred years ago.
The 1916 Committee and Niamh Synnott 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. The committee brainstormed imagery associated with these women. A design was eventually formed and the construction of the mural began in February 2016. The mural was then cut in to sections, dried, fired, glazed, re-fired and installed as a permanent artwork in St. Joseph’s College during Easter Week 2016.
The mural was officially opened by Liz Gillis, author of ‘Women of the Irish Revolution’, at our school’s 1916 Commemoration Event on Thursday 14th April 2016.
To the left of the mural are seven lino prints of the seven women. These prints were made by seven 2nd Year students; Rebecca Carey, Amelia Herbaczewska, Onosen Ikhide, Lily O’Reilly, Laura Owens, Clara Sheils and Gabriela Trojner.
TY 1916 Committee: Laine Abria, Marwa Ali, Lara Byrne, Zita Burke, Ella Dawson, Rebecca Doyle, Tina Ehiguese, Aoife Flood, Maisie Flynn, Gabrielle Fulllam, Katie Hegarty, Ciara Hogan, Kerin Hussain, Emily Larkin, Aicha Madi, Rebecca McCarthy, Jessica McClelland, Sandra McClelland, Laura Morgan, Tara O’Connor, Eleni O’Dwyer, Christine Omezi, Sadhbh Thorton, Avril Quinn, Emer Rynn, Genevieve Scott, Isabelle Vincent & Sophie Wells.
Mairéad McGroarty, Michael Smyth & Niamh Garvey
Thank you so much to our sponsors;
Creative Engagement, South Dublin County Council, Dublin Bus, Glasnevin Trust, Chancellor Dr. Maurice Manning, NUI, An Post Museum, School Tour Company, Lucan Credit Union, History Department, UCD, Gael Linn, Paul Gogarty, Roisín Ní Ghairbhí
