Contributed by Joanne McEntee
‘As we gather in the chapel here in old Kilmainham Jail, I think about these past few weeks, oh will they say we’ve failed?’
Although initially deemed a failure, the rising orchestrated by the ‘Easter 7’ in April 1916 proved pivotal in Ireland’s struggle against British rule. The seven signatories of the Proclamation, Thomas J. Clarke, Sean Mac Diarmada, James Connolly, Patrick H. Pearse, Éamonn Ceannt, Thomas MacDonagh and Joseph Plunkett have been resurrected once again in the first major television series of the event in over forty years.
‘1916 Seachtar na Cásca’ written by Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh, directed by Dathaí Keane, and produced in conjunction with Abú media productions had its first public airing at the 22nd Galway Film Fleadh. TG4 now brings this seven part historical documentary to a wider audience every Wednesday night at 21.30 with repeat showings on Saturdays at 21.30. The series runs from 22 September until 3 November.
Narrated by Brendan Gleeson as Gaeilge with English subtitles, the production essentially provides biographies of the seven leaders executed by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol. The series begins with the men in deliberations prior to the event in the aptly named Liberty Hall. Each man’s story ends with his own death. Notable academics such as Declan Kiberd, Ruan O’Donnell, Diarmaid Ferriter, and Aindrias O’Cathasaigh, the writer of the piece, provide commentary, while the signature tune and visuals prove reminiscent of Band of Brothers.
Rory Mullen pulls off an impressive performance as the veteran Tomas Clarke in the opening episode. Following prosecution for Fenian activity in Britain, Clarke endured fifteen years of imprisonment in extremely harsh conditions. His memoir Glimpses of an Irish felon’s prison life makes for interesting reading. The first episode concludes with Clarke’s execution on 4 May 1916.
The second progamme follows the life of James Connolly. Lorcan Cranitch pulls off a convincing performance as the founder of the Irish Citizen Army. In a similar fashion to Clarke (born on the Isle of Wight to Irish parents), Connolly was born abroad in the slums of Edinburgh to Monaghan parents. Both patriots also spent a significant amount of time in America before returning to fight for Ireland. After sustaining a broken ankle during an attack, Connolly met his death while strapped into a chair. Connolly’s memory is currently undergoing a revival due to RTÉ1’s search for Ireland’s Greatest. Having been shortlisted in the top five, the socialist now finds himself being defended by none other than ‘the man of the people’ himself, Joe Duffy, during the show’s programme on Monday, 4 October.
‘Oh, Grace just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger
They’ll take me out at dawn and I will die’
The lyrics above immortalise the story of the poet Joseph Plunkett, whose biography was of concern in the third instalment of ‘1916 Seachtar na Casca’. The song captures the conflict supposedly experienced by Plunkett prior to his execution when he married his fiancée Grace Gifford in Kilmainham Gaol’s small chapel.
Having arrived somewhat at the mid-point of the seven part series after three programmes, it is quite clear that the aim of the series is entirely captured in the title ‘1916 Seachtar na Casca’. It is concerned with the relationship between events in Dublin 1916 and men who instigated them. The programme is neither an analysis of the Rising nor an examination of its aftermath.
TG4’s homepage provides useful background information on each episode. For audience members with a mere cúpla focal, this site also proves accessible: simply click the ‘English Version’ option. If you have missed the first two episodes, never fear, just go to TG4 player . Even ‘Facebook’ has a page devoted to the series.
‘… For we must say goodbye’
Even after a lapse of forty years, good bye has not been said to ‘The Easter 7’. In six years it will be undoubtedly be hello once again.
Joanne Mc Entee is completing doctoral research on the nineteenth century Irish landed estate, as part of the Texts, Contexts, Cultures programme in the Moore Institute, NUI Galway. This project is funded by PRTLI 4.
Tags: Easter 1916, TG4, the 'Easter 7'
Pue's Occurrences 
15 October 2010 at 13:01 |
ruan o donnell a notable academic?
academic certainly bur notable?
16 October 2010 at 15:57 |
I’m enjoying the series so far. It must have got decent funding because the reconstructions are much better quality than usual for TG4. A small point: the Connolly episode showed the ICA training with Lee Enfield .303 rifles and the same gun was shown being used in the GPO. Neither the Volunteers, or the ICA, had this rifle in 1916 (it was the standard rifle of the British Army). The Volunteers had older, German made Mausers, and the odd Martini Henry, while the ICA had a small number of Italian made rifles.
I also wonder about Tom Clarke’s accent?
18 October 2010 at 12:25 |
Agree with the point about Tom Clarke’s accent; Sean McDermott’s was also a little odd.
The series presents a very traditionalist account of the Rising (and it’s interesting to compare this version with RTE’s Insurrection of 1966, available on the RTE Library webpage). Redmond is casually dismissed as a traitor, and there is no indication that these seven men represented very much a minority strain even within advanced nationalism at the time. All in all, impressive production values but less impressive as a historical documentary.
3 November 2010 at 05:51 |
Is this the program that had the tag-line ‘Seven Signatures, Seven Executions’? I’m trying to find out more information about it for an advertising presentation for college?
10 November 2010 at 14:06 |
‘Seachtar na Casca’ was not a historical documentary but a seven part hagiography (well presented) repeating the same old myths about the heroes of 1916. Delve into the reality of this period and you will discover that each man was desperate only to make his own individual impact on the world. This was not a revolution but a fit of peak by men who otherwise had personally failed in any other enterprise they had undertaken. The arrogance displayed by this aloof, secret and miniscule group to the welfare and wishes of the nation was astounding. For them the nation was an idea never the people who comprised it. The people no right to be wrong. For them the people could not be trusted to decide what they wanted and how they would go about getting that. The nation which they bequeathed to us has since been characterised by poverty, factional discord, clientelism, illiberality, social division and political violence. But their most enduring legacy, of course, has been the legitimisation of the political violence of a succession of similarly miniscule republican groups which have defied the Irish people and continued to murder in their name to the present day.
‘Seachtar na Casca’ as history was a travesty i.e. totally without evenhanded and detached appraisal of people or events. As propaganda it was, of course, well constructed i.e. kept simple, sentimental and easy to imbibe.
I more than surprised that an excellent historian such as Dermot Ferriter allowed himself to be deployed in this mythmaking.
24 October 2015 at 09:11 |
One person posted they’d lost more than 130. Religion and
family tell us to hhold back in the name of morality.
The sceme shows full frmale nudity, and yoou can clearly
see the act taking place when Joohn walkos in. Parent
need to accept responsibility ffor thee safety
off heir children by being vigilant and aware hat every social situation has
the potential to harm a child, including a happy marriage.
At the backdrop of these problems more men ahor the idea of going to
a doctor and getting the problem treated properly since they don’t want to admit it at the
first place that this is a problem in their system.