The National Library of Ireland (NLI) has launched a series of short audio recordings detailing first-hand accounts of the Easter Rising. Called Voices of the Rising, the series can be accessed free of charge through iTunes.
The podcasts build on recordings from the NLI’s flagship exhibition Rising, which opened at the National Photographic Archive earlier this month. They feature recordings from the men and women who took part in or witnessed the dramatic events of Easter 1916. Short introductions provide the listener with context for each of the recordings.
“The podcasts provide listeners with a very personal account of people’s experiences of the Rising," said Katherine McSharry, Head of Outreach at the NLI. "They paint a vivid picture of the range of emotions Irish citizens experienced as the fighting raged and landmarks in Dublin’s city centre were destroyed."
So far, four podcasts are available, each running for two or three minutes. In total, 18 podcasts will be released on a weekly basis until May.
All documents selected for Voices of the Rising are held in the NLI’s 1916 collections; most have been digitised and are also available online via the NLI’s online catalogue.
