We're just under two weeks away from Thomas MacDonagh W19eek, the highlight of Kilkenny's 1916 Commemorations.
The week will see a lot of activities in memory of the Proclamation signatory, who lived in the Marble City for a number of years before the Rising.
It will run from April 30th to May 9th, and one of the events included is a street play highlighting MacDonagh's activities in Kilkenny.
Writer Cara O'Doherty explained to Beat News how Kilkenny played a massive part in MacDonagh's move to nationalism:
"He came to a Gaelic League meeting in Kilkenny and he was fired up!"
"He called it his 'birth of Nationalism'. He was dedicated to the Irish cause, became a fluent Irish speaker and found himself fascinated by Irish history and heritage."
"He then moved from Kilkenny to St Enda's in Dublin, and it was from there he became very political, one of the revolutionaries of the Rising and one of the signatories of the Proclamation."
Meanwhile, during the week of celebrations, the Irish Army will take part in what's known as the 'Ministerial Review', where the Minister for Defence officially reviews the troops before they undertake a peacekeeping mission.
It will take place in Kilkenny on May 3rd, and Captain Larry Scallan from Stephen's Barracks explains why the event taking place is significant:
"We will march through High Street, and give our Ministerial Salute."
"It's really appropriate because that's the building where Thomas MacDonagh, in March 1914, founded the Kilkenny branch of the Irish National Volunteers."
"The Ministerial Review is on the 3rd of May, 100 years to the day of when Thomas MacDonagh was executed."
