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90th Anniversary of First Dáil
Media » 90th Anniversary of First Dáil
Houses of Oireachtas to Hold Historic Joint Meeting in Mansion House to Commemorate 90th Anniversary of First Dáil
16 January 2009
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann1. This historic event took place on 21st of January 1919 in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin.
To mark this momentous occasion in Irish history, a joint sitting of both Houses of Oireachtas will take place in the Round Room of the Mansion House between 11-12 am, on Tuesday, 20th January 2009. Members of the Dáil and Seanad will attend together with invited guests. The occasion will be televised live on RTE television and will be attended by former Taoisigh, Ceann Comhairligh, Cathaoirligh, members of the Council of State and descendents of TDs elected to the first Dáil. The Ceann Comhairle, Cathaoirleach, Taoiseach, other party leaders and political representatives will address the meeting.
The Joint Sitting is the centrepiece to a programme of activities designed to mark this important date in our parliamentary tradition.
Speaking about the event, Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue, TD said; "The commemorative sitting will salute the patriotism and courage of those elected representatives who through their meeting in the Mansion House ninety years ago, gave a voice to the people of Ireland’s expression of self-determination in the 1918 general election.Nowadays, it is very easy for parliamentarians to take for granted our ability to put ourselves freely forward for election, to freely canvass the electorate and to propose our ideas without censorship. Maybe as a people, we can sometimes forget that some gave all so that we could cast our vote in our country for our government of choice. We owe a lot to those pioneers who took the first steps on the road.
We should always remember that a people are defined by what they commemorate as much as by what they celebrate. I hope that the commemoration and the series of events surrounding it will help to serve both as a tribute to those parliamentarians who made the pioneering initial moves and as an inspiration to our present and future politicians."
Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Pat Moylan said: "The first meeting of the Dáil was truly a pivotal moment in our history, not only did members declare our independence and ratify a constitution, they also set out an ambitious vision for a democratic and inclusive state. For its time, this vision was revolutionary and as a nation we can still learn a lot from our founding fathers."
The joint sitting forms part of a commemorative programme which will feature an exhibition entitled "90 Years of Parliamentary Democracy" and see the creation of a Houses of Oireachtas Parliamentary Fellowship.
The Houses of the Oireachtas and the "The Irish Times" have also collaborated in a commemorative supplement to be published on Wednesday 21st January.
Media access to the press gallery will be available to accredited journalists in accordance with House of the Oireachtas procedures.
ENDS
For further information or to arrange to attendance please contact
Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Office
01 618 4484
087 6949926
Media » 90th Anniversary of First Dáil
Houses of Oireachtas to Hold Historic Joint Meeting in Mansion House to Commemorate 90th Anniversary of First Dáil
16 January 2009
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann1. This historic event took place on 21st of January 1919 in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin.
To mark this momentous occasion in Irish history, a joint sitting of both Houses of Oireachtas will take place in the Round Room of the Mansion House between 11-12 am, on Tuesday, 20th January 2009. Members of the Dáil and Seanad will attend together with invited guests. The occasion will be televised live on RTE television and will be attended by former Taoisigh, Ceann Comhairligh, Cathaoirligh, members of the Council of State and descendents of TDs elected to the first Dáil. The Ceann Comhairle, Cathaoirleach, Taoiseach, other party leaders and political representatives will address the meeting.
The Joint Sitting is the centrepiece to a programme of activities designed to mark this important date in our parliamentary tradition.
Speaking about the event, Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue, TD said; "The commemorative sitting will salute the patriotism and courage of those elected representatives who through their meeting in the Mansion House ninety years ago, gave a voice to the people of Ireland’s expression of self-determination in the 1918 general election.Nowadays, it is very easy for parliamentarians to take for granted our ability to put ourselves freely forward for election, to freely canvass the electorate and to propose our ideas without censorship. Maybe as a people, we can sometimes forget that some gave all so that we could cast our vote in our country for our government of choice. We owe a lot to those pioneers who took the first steps on the road.
We should always remember that a people are defined by what they commemorate as much as by what they celebrate. I hope that the commemoration and the series of events surrounding it will help to serve both as a tribute to those parliamentarians who made the pioneering initial moves and as an inspiration to our present and future politicians."
Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Pat Moylan said: "The first meeting of the Dáil was truly a pivotal moment in our history, not only did members declare our independence and ratify a constitution, they also set out an ambitious vision for a democratic and inclusive state. For its time, this vision was revolutionary and as a nation we can still learn a lot from our founding fathers."
The joint sitting forms part of a commemorative programme which will feature an exhibition entitled "90 Years of Parliamentary Democracy" and see the creation of a Houses of Oireachtas Parliamentary Fellowship.
The Houses of the Oireachtas and the "The Irish Times" have also collaborated in a commemorative supplement to be published on Wednesday 21st January.
Media access to the press gallery will be available to accredited journalists in accordance with House of the Oireachtas procedures.
ENDS
For further information or to arrange to attendance please contact
Daniel English
Oireachtas Communications Office
01 618 4484
087 6949926
