A revolution: Centenary of first Dáil
Over the past five years we have seen centenary commemorations of gigantic events in Irish and world history.
Most of them have involved extreme violence, horror, and hardship, most notably the Great War of 1914-18, the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the 1916 Rising.
This year we can not only commemorate but also celebrate another revolution; a quiet, tame but nonetheless momentous period in Irish history: The first Dáil.
In 1919 candidates who had been elected in the Westminster elections of 1918 refused to recognise the UK parliament and instead established an independent legislature in Dublin. Sadly, the opening session of the first Dáil also marked the beginning of the Civil War.
The first meeting of Dáil Éireann occurred on January 21, 1919, in the round room of the Mansion House, the residence of the lord mayor of Dublin.
In a remarkable initiative, the current incumbent, Nial Ring, has thrown the doors of the Mansion House open to the public.
Anyone who can should go and experience it.
