Pictured above are the survivors of the 1920 explosion at St. Kearns – following their release from prison
THE ANNUAL commemoration ceremony at the monument in St. Kearns will take place on Sunday, October 16, at 2 p.m.
The event regularly attracts a large crowd, however, the organisers are hopeful this year’s ceremony will be even more successful than usual in view of the fact it’s taking place in the centenary year of the 1916 Rising.
The unveiling of a specially commissioned marble stone engraved with the Easter Proclamation will mark that fact.
Speaking to the Echo about the event Cllr. Michael Whelan, who is the Chairperson of the St. Kearns Explosion Commemoration Committee, said it promises to be a great occasion.
“The committee felt that it was appropriate to use this year’s commemoration ceremony to pay tribute to those that participated in the Easter Rising,” he said.
“With that in mind they applied for a National 1916 Community Commemoration Grant to secure the marble Proclamation,” he added.
It’s hoped that a high profile Irish politician will be in attendance at the event, however, this was not confirmed as the Echo went to press.
Each year the commemoration ceremony at the shore in St. Kearns remembers tragic events that occurred on the night of October 12, 1920.
An old disused farmhouse, which was being secretly used as a bomb factory, was the scene of a massive explosion when an accidental detonation occurred. The house was completely destroyed and five local men lost their lives with many others seriously injured.
The Commemoration Committee is now very active as the centenary of the tragedy will take place in four years time.
“The committee is currently putting the finishing touches to a documentary which it is hoped will both educate the current generation and honour the generation of 1920,” said Cllr. Whelan.
“All going well, the documentary is expected to be completed by Christmas this year,” he added.
He said it’s hoped the documentary will help explain why a group of farmers in a remote rural location would put their lives at risk for Ireland’s independence in addition to outlining what exactly happened that fateful night in 1920.
