The unveiling was also attended by County Kildare public
representatives, representatives of the John Devoy Memorial Committees
of New York and Naas, Kildare County Council, Kildare Decade of
Commemorations Committee, Kill Local History Group and Naas Local
History Group who funded the plinth for the memorial.
Apart
form dignitaries, local historians and those connected to the various
committees, a large local crowd turned out on a dull drizzly Sunday
to witness the unveiling which was MC'd by Marian Higgins,
Kildare Co. Librarian. Marian introduced speeches
from the Mayor of County Kildare, US Ambassador Kevin O'Malley, as
well as members of the New York delegation. Music was provided by St.
Conleth's Pipe Band.
Seamus Curran and the John Devoy Memorial Committee
The John Devoy Memorial Committee was founded in Naas by local man
Seamus Curran in 2008. The Committee struggled to attract funding in the
recessionary period and the County Kildare Association of New York
offered help. A New York John Devoy Memorial Committee was set up as a
subcommittee of the County Kildare Association and quite quickly raised
$45,000 to erect the statue. The location for the monument was chosen by
the Naas and New York Committees with the agreement of Kildare County
Council.
Cast by sculptor Jarlath Daly the life-size statue of John Devoy
was erected near to where Devoy worked and across the street from Our
Lady and St. David’s Catholic Church, where he was condemned from the
pulpit, in 1865, by Fr. Hughes for his political activities in the name
of Irish freedom.
The project will no doubt revive interest in this great hero,
largely forgotten by history, as the Irish at home and around the world
prepare for the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
Week-long series of events
The Kildare County Council Decade of Commemorations Committee organised a week-long series
of events to coincide with the unveiling and the visit by members of
the New York Co. Kildare Association to the county. Events included:
Tom Nelson launch his book Through peace and war. Kildare Co.
Council in the years of revolution, 1899-1926, in Áras Chill Dara, Devoy
Park, Naas. on Monday 19 October, at 12 noon,
Terry Golway’s, Irish rebel: John Devoy and America’s fight for
Ireland’s freedom, was re-published by Merrion Press, Sallins, to mark
the occasion.
A new book by Kildare Historian in Residence, James Durney,
Foremost and ready: Kildare and the 1916 Rising is likewise planned to
coincide with the event.
Kildare County Council hosted two nights of entertainment in Naas
Town Hall for the US visitors and local residents:‘The Percy French
Story,’ by Owen C. Lynch and Mona Conroy was performed at 8.00 p.m.,
Friday 23 October and Saturday 24 October. Earlier on Saturday, the Co.
Kildare Federation of Local History Groups hosted their annual seminar
in Kilcullen Heritage Centre, at 11.30 am. Guest speaker, Adhamhnán Ó
Súilleabháin, deliver an illustrated talk on his grandfather, 1916
veteran, Domhnall Ua Buachalla, from Maynooth.
The week-long festivities culminated on Sunday with the unveiling
of the John Devoy statue at 2.00 p.m., Poplar Square, Naas, followed by
the launch, at 4.00 p.m., of the Co. Kildare 1916-2016 Programme.
Attendees at the unveiling included:
Memorial: Jarlath Daly (Sculptor); John Flood, Seamus Byrne (All Stone)
Defence Forces: Lft. Brian Lane and Colour Party; Lt.-Col. Cyril Whelan
2016 Project Office - An Ceannfort Stephen MacEoin, Michael O' Reilly
McAuley Place: Catherine, Mark
Music: Philip Scott; St. Conleth's Pipe Band O.N.E. - Philip and Anthony Coy
New York: Mike and Anne Flood, Pat and Kathleen Smyth, Garrett
Doyle and all from the Kildare Association of New York
Naas & Co. Kildare: Naas Local History Group, Mona Conroy, Owen C. Lynch, Tony
and Mark at Naas Printing; Tony Keane (Photographer), Bill Clear and Naas Tidy Towns.
Sgt. Gerald Goode,Inspector Glennon and Naas Gardaí
Conor Graham, Merrion Press; Terry Golway; Adhamhnán Ó
Súilleabháin; Lord Edward's Own Historical Re-enactment Group
US Embassy: Ambassador O'Malley - Staff: Caitriona, Debra and Chris
Kildare Library and Arts Service: Mario Corrigan, Lucina Russell,
Karel Kiely, Damien Dollard, Ronan O'Dwyer, Eoghan Doyle, Hilda Minchin,
Historian in Residence James Durney,
Kildare County Council: David Reel, Patricia McNeela, Michael
Hurley, Josh Halligan, Annette Aspell, Pat McCormack, Decade of
Commemorations Committee, Co. Heritage Officer Bridget Loughlin, Chief Executive Peter Carey,
Directors of Services Eamon O'Sullivan, Peter Minnock
Public
representatives: Mayor,
Cllr. Brendan Weld, Cllr Fiona O'Loughlin, Cllr. Anne Breen