A campaign is underway to buy the historic laneways on Moore Street that became the final headquarters of the Easter Rising leaders and rebels.
People in Ireland and around the world are being invited to purchase bonds for €100 each to save the street that is so important to the history of the Ireland we know today.
The Easter Rising leaders used number 16 Moore Street as a HQ when the British forces began to overpower the rebels. The neighbouring houses from numbers 14-17 were also used by the rebels.
Many believe that these houses are a proud part of Irish history as they had played a key role in one of the most important events that led to the country achieving its freedom.
However, rather than celebrating the street and what happened in those houses, the government has been slow to intervene as a development company planned to regenerate the area.
Their plans included demolishing the houses in order to build a shopping centre. While four of the houses, including number 16, have been saved, the surrounding area is still under threat. This would make it impossible for future generations to see the houses in the context of the 1916 battlefields and their proximity to the GPO.
The 1916 Moore Street Bond Scheme
Documentary maker Marcus Howard explained that a movement has been launched by the diaspora and the Irish community to buy Moore Street back.
The ‘1916 Moore Street Bond Scheme’ has been launched by the Lord Mayor of Dublin along with a number of the relatives of the Easter Rising rebels.
Campaign organiser Frank Allen said: “There is great excitement among all the Irish family at home and abroad as we are now on the threshold of The Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, but the actual Terrace of houses in Moore Street, Dublin where the Volunteers made their last stand for Irish freedom are now to be demolished and replaced by another vulgar shopping mall.
“But the Bonds Movement can still save this battlefield site for future generations and the Irish diaspora by encouraging all patriotic Irish people to buy a Bond and honour the sacrifice of our golden generation in 1916. Put your name on a brick of the restored 1916 Moore Street Houses and lane ways.”
Marcus Howard, who is the great great grandnephew of Irish Volunteer Arthur Greene said: “You have a chance to be able to buy back a piece of Irish history by buying a bond and not letting the street be taken over by a shopping centre in place of our valuable Irish history and heritage.”
€10m to save Moore Street
They are looking to sell 100,000 bonds in order to raise €10m needed to save the street. If they don’t raise enough money to buy the property, people will have their money refunded.
Proinsias O’Rahilly, grandson of The O’Rahilly said: “There is another arm of the government that is trying to demolish it forever. I’ve said it on numerous occasions, it doesn’t belong to anyone. This sacred area belongs to the people of Ireland.”
The bond scheme is considered by many to be a necessary course of action if the historic street is to be saved.
After the council voted to destroy part of Ireland’s Viking history – Woodquay – in the 1970s, there is reason to believe that the same could happen to Moore Street if people stand by and do nothing.
Speaking at the launch, Frank Allen said: “Imagine… looking at computers to find out about a Viking city that our City Council now sit in. What a shame. You ain’t getting away with that with Moore Street!”
For more information visit www.1916moorestreetbond.com
Take a look at the video by Marcus Howard, much of which was filmed during the launch of the campaign.
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