Printing the 1916 Proclamation

Join us for a live reenactment of the printing of the 1916 Proclamation to commemorate its 110th anniversary.

The Proclamation of the Irish Republic was presented during the Easter Rising in 1916 as a formal declaration that the Irish Republic was a sovereign state, rightfully independent from Great Britain. Patrick Pearse, one of the leaders of the Rising, read the Proclamation in front of the General Post Office on Easter Monday (24 April) and heralded the start of the revolution against the British. This is one of the defining moments in Irish history.

The printing of the nation’s most historic printed document was done in great haste, and work was carried out early into the early hours of the morning before the Rising was due to take place. It was created by compositors Michael J. Molloy and Liam O Briain and printer Christopher Brady. It was printed under difficult conditions at Liberty Hall using a Wharfedale Double-Crown model printer. The response of the printers in the face of such a significant moment in Irish history is a testament to their resourcefulness, ingenuity, and craft.

The Museum’s Wharfedale was restored to full working order in 2016 and has been used to print replica Proclamations. Printer, Freddie Snowe, will share the remarkable story of the printing of this iconic document and run the Museum’s Wharfedale Stop Cylinder for this special occasion.

Free, booking advised.