Centenary of Sack of Balbriggan being marked this weekend
The Centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan, which occurs today, Sunday, September 20, is being commemorated this weekend.
Although some of the planned events had to be scaled back because of the COVID-19 restrictions imposed this week by Government there are still many commemorations taking place which have been organized by local groups and the Council under the co-ordination of the Sack of Balbriggan Commemoration Committee which is comprised of representatives from local groups and Elected Representatives from Balbriggan.
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy, said: ““It is extremely important that we mark the Centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan and the local organising committee have done great work along with Council staff in ensuring that there is still a great programme on offer despite the restrictions that are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to thank all the volunteers from the many different groups across Balbriggan who came together to work on this commemoration.
"In remembering the collective punishment visited on the civilian population of Balbriggan by the Black and Tans, we also express our solidarity with civilian populations elsewhere in the world who, in modern times, continue to face such punishment.”
Among the groups involved in the Sack of Balbriggan Centenary commemorations are Balbriggan & District Historical Society, the Fingal Commemorative Old IRA Society, The Lighthouse Art Group, Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Balbriggan.info, Balbriggan Tourism Group, Balbriggan Pigeon Club, Balbriggan Golf Club and the town’s GAA and Soccer clubs.
The Director of Fingal County Council’s Housing and Community Department, Margaret Geraghty, said: “There are exhibitions, talks and the painting of murals taking place and every effort has been made to ensure that this important event in the history of Balbriggan has been properly marked.”
The Sack of Balbriggan was the main theme for the fourth annual Fingal Festival of History festival which took place online between September 12 and 19. All the talks and presentations associated with the Festival are available online on the Fingal Libraries YouTube channel and social media platforms.
An exhibition of the Sack of Balbriggan is ready for display in The Atrium at County Hall, Swords, and a virtual exhibition can be viewed on the Council’s website, fingal.ie.
A mural commemorating the Sack of Balbriggan has been commissioned by Fingal County Council’s Arts Office and work is nearing completion at Bridge Street.
The Council is also making a documentary to mark the commemoration of the Centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan and when completed it will be uploaded to the Council’s social media channels.
The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “Balbriggan has changed a lot over the last 100 years and the commemoration of the Centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan is also an opportunity to look at how the town has developed since then. The Our Balbriggan project is a key priority for the Council and will give the town a solid foundation on which to grow in a sustainable way over the next century.”