The 100th anniversary of the election of Éamon DeValera at the 1917 East Clare Bye Election will be commemorated by Fianna Fáil Leader, Micheál Martin, the Clare Fianna Fáil organisation, and his family, on Sunday, 23rd July in Ennis.
The event was due to take place on Saturday July 22nd but has been moved to the following day to facilitate fans intending to travel to Cork for Clare’s All-Ireland SHC quarter final with Tipperary.
The commemorative events will take place at Glór at 2pm and will include lectures from noted historians, music by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éíreann, and a photographic and election memorabilia exhibition. Party Leader Micheál Martin will address the audience.
Following the activities, a full dress-parade, led by a brass band, will march, led by Micheál Martin and former Clare TD, Síle DeValera, to the O’Connell Monument – the site of some of Éamon DeValera’s most famous speeches.
At the O’Connell Memorial, there will be a re-enactment of the announcement of the election of DeValera, in addition to a number of key moments in his political life.
Síle DeValera, who served the people of Clare for 20 years in Dáil Éireann, will then deliver a keynote address outlining the impact of her grandfather’s election 100 years ago for the Republican cause as it sought to gather itself together and regroup following the Easter Rising a year before.
“This is an event that is not to be missed. If you have an interest in politics, history or just our own county of Clare, make sure your come along and join us in remembering one of the most pivotal events in Irish history,” said local Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley.