Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:454. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport his plans to mark the sesquicentenary of the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland as the State Church in 1869. [68223/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 29 September 2026
Ceisteanna (454)
Freagraí scríofa
The Commemorations Unit in my Department ensures that the significant historical events and themes which have been highlighted in the Programme for Government, by the Commemorations Advisory Committee, or through key stakeholders are appropriately marked and remembered.
The Unit has not yet received any proposals to mark this anniversary. The 160th anniversary of the Irish Church Act of 1869, will take place in 2029. This saw the end of the Church of Ireland being the State Church and the transfer of property and assets to Ecclesiastical Commissioners and later to the purposely formed Representative Body of the Church of Ireland (RCB).
The Irish Church Act may be considered within the context of the commemoration of the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829. The bicentenary of this Act will also take place in 2029, and has been identified in the Programme for Government and by the Commemorations Advisory Committee as an anniversary that could be marked by the State.
If the Deputy is aware of proposals to mark the Irish Church Act of 1869, there are a number of avenues for support.
Local communities and interest groups that want to take part are supported by my Department through the local authority network. Each year a funding allocation has been provided to local authorities to develop community-led commemorative programming. The initiatives chosen for support are at the discretion of each local authority. The contact details for the Commemorations Co-ordinates are available on the commemorations page on Gov.ie.
Public bodies, sectoral stakeholders and third level institutions can bring forward proposals for commemorative events or programmes directly to the Unit.
All initiatives supported by my Department are required to be in keeping with the established principles of commemorations including historical authenticity, accessibility, inclusion and respectful remembrance.