Come Here To Me!

I came across this last night at The Abbey, having gone to see Translations. Excellent if you’re wondering. You’re running out of the on that one. The memorial seems to be a replacement to the plaque which was to be found at the Abbey for many years. I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who knows just how long this memorial has been in place.

There are seven names to be found on the memorial, including Sean Connolly, the first casualty of the republican side during the uprising.

Undoubtedly, there are names missing from the memorial. Writing in the Dublin Historical Record in 1999, James Wren noted that: ‘Although Edward Keegan’s name does not appear on the Abbey Theatre’s 1916 plaque he was an early member of the National Players and as a Volunteer he fought in the 1916 Rising’.

Sean Connolly on the plaque is a character we’ve featured on Come Here To Me before, for example back in April of last year with the unveiling of a plaque on his family home.

Lady Gregory wrote of the talented actor following the rebellion in poem:

“O branch that withered without age!
Would we could see you where you’re missed
Step airy on the Abbey stage
Play there ‘The Revolutionist’
Or fill with laughter pit and stalls
With Bartley Fallon’s croak and cry
What led you to those castle walls?
We mourn you Sean Connolly”

A fascinating account of Arthur Shields time with the National Theatre can be found here, at the Abbey archives.

There are 1916 memorials to be found on occasion in the oddest of places, for example in the bar of Wynn’s Hotel where one finds a memorial marking the spot where Cumann na mBan were founded.