Google's 1916 virtual tour fuses the Dublin of today with the Dublin of 1916
The 1916 Rising is being commemorated by the Google Cultural Institute in the form of an amazing virtual tour of Dublin, which features rich photography and artefacts, as well as a voiceover by actor Colin Farrell.
Google has created the Dublin Rising 1916-2016’ virtual tour as part of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme.
The virtual tour explores iconic places, people and stories of 100 years ago and features exhibitions from six cultural institutions, including artefacts from the National Library, Military Archives, Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, the Abbey Theatre, the Royal Irish Academy, and the Library of Trinity College Dublin alongside Century Ireland.
Throughout the tour – narrated by actor Colin Farrell – visitors will be able to stop at city locations as they are today, hear what happened there and click to explore photos, videos, stories and witness statements.
‘Growing up in Dublin, the events of 1916 are a key part of our schooling and culture’
– COLIN FARRELL, ACTOR
For example, visitors will be able to look at the GPO through today’s lens to how it stood 100 years ago in the aftermath of the Rising, destroyed by shellfire.
“Growing up in Dublin, the events of 1916 are a key part of our schooling and culture and I’m glad now that anyone around the world can learn more about it and see why it had such an impact on modern-day Ireland just by picking up their phone or computer,” Farrell explained.
The Dublin 1916 Rising: a nation is born
Also known as the Easter Rebellion, the Rising was mounted by Irish republicans as an effort to end British rule in Ireland.npopular among the population of Dublin at the time, the Rising was a military failure but the brutal repression and executions by the British Army served to sow the seeds of revolution in Ireland and sway public sympathy towards a free Ireland.
Unpopular among the population of Dublin at the time, the Rising was a military failure, but the brutal repression and executions by the British Army in its aftermath served to sow the seeds of revolution in Ireland and sway public sympathy towards a free Ireland.
Among the artefacts provided by the National Library of Ireland, for example, are Joseph Plunkett’s journal, which captures the drama and intensity of the fight for the GPO, and the notice of the rebel surrender signed by Pádraig Pearse on 20 April 1916.
‘2016 is a significant year for Ireland, commemorating as it does the events of 1916, which subsequently led to the birth of the modern Ireland we are today’
– RONAN HARRIS, GOOGLE
The Google Cultural Institute partners with hundreds of museums, art galleries and archives around the world to document and make accessible important cultural material online.
“2016 is a significant year for Ireland, commemorating as it does the events of 1916, which subsequently led to the birth of the modern Ireland we are today,” the head of Google Ireland, Ronan Harris, explained.
“In commemoration, we have worked with a number of partners and historians to help people in Ireland, and around the world, explore, learn and talk about the people, events, places and objects that shaped these defining events.
“Google is about giving everyone access to the best information, culture and experiences through technology and this tour gives people a way to peel back the layers of history and experience what life was like 100 years ago in Ireland.”
