Video: Sharon Walia speaks to the Irish ambassador at the Galleries of Justice
Irish ambassador Dan Mulhall visited Nottingham for the first time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Dublin Easter Rising.
The ambassador attended a lunch at the Galleries of Justice today (Friday November 11) along with members of Nottingham’s Irish community before exploring the museum’s Roger Casement exhibition which showcases his life and legacy.
Mr Mulhall became Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain in September 2013.
Speaking to Notts TV News, he said: “This year is the centenary of the Easter Rising and its been a year in which we in Ireland have developed a new understanding of our history.
“We realise that our history runs through the Easter Rising but it also runs through the battlefields of the Somme.
“On Sunday I’ll be laying a wreath in memory of the thirty five thousand Irish men who died in the First World War.
“It’s great to be able to do something on the same weekend here in Nottingham about Roger Casement and on Sunday recognise those who died in British uniform but were Irish nationalists who fought and died for Ireland on the battlefields of the Somme.”
A reenactment of the trial of Roger Casement at Galleries of Justice Museum in #Nottingham. pic.twitter.com/rogBqQEH10
— Daniel Mulhall (@DanMulhall) 11 November 2016
Roger Casement was executed for his part in the uprising and the ambassador watched a courtroom reenactment of his trial.
Nottingham has a strong link to the 1916 rebellion as The Sherwood Foresters Regiment were the first soldiers to arrive in Dublin following the uprising which was launched by Irish republicans to end British rule in the country.
We are delighted to welcome the Irish Ambassador to Nottingham
Ambassador Mulhall also listened to a talk that looked at the consequences of the Treason Act, which at the time of trial, was over 700 years old.
There was also a performance of the speech that Casement gave at his trial.
Chief Executive at the Galleries of Justice, Tim Desmond said: “We are delighted to welcome the Irish Ambassador to Nottingham for this special event linked to Roger Casement.
“As part of the visit he will also have the opportunity to see the original Bow Street Dock, which is part of the collection at the museum and is where Casement stood during his committal hearing.
“In February 2017 we will become the National Justice Museum and it is important to us that we continue to tell stories of national and international significance such as this one.”
