To mark the centenary of Patrick Pearse’s visit to the United States, the Pearse Museum has mounted an exhibition entitled ‘From A Hermitage to Harlem: Pearse in America, 1914’ which looks at this key event in Pearse’s political development. Patrick Pearse travelled to the USA in 1914 with the intention of promoting his educational philosophy, but chiefly as a fund-raising trip for the school.  One of his biggest speaking engagements was a talk entitled ‘Robert Emmet and the Ireland of To-day’ in the Academy of Music, Brooklyn on 2nd March 1914 as part of their annual commemoration of Robert Emmet’s birth (8th March). It is fitting therefore that the OPW unveil this exhibition on the 100th anniversary of that talk. Minister Brian Hayes will officially launch the exhibition at 2pm on Sunday 2nd March.

Among the items and images on display in the exhibition is a silhouette of Pearse which was made when he was standing at the top of the Woolworth Building, the tallest building in the world when he visited in April 1914. Other noteworthy items include letters written by Eugene Cronin, a young American boy who returned with Pearse to become a pupil in St. Enda’s. In an early letter to his aunt he wrote of his homesickness saying "if Ma don't come right away and take me back I'll die". However, his later letters show that he settled in well, and came to love the school.

‘From A Hermitage to Harlem’ forms part of a programme of exhibitions which the Pearse Museum is mounting to mark the centenaries of key events in Pearse’s life leading up to the 1916 Rising. The next exhibition in the series will concentrate on Pearse’s iconic oration at the funeral of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa in August 1915. 

Restoration of the St. Enda's Follies: The OPW has undertaken the restoration of seven of the follies in the grounds of St. Enda's. These late 18th/early 19th century follies are of immense architectural and historical importance and form an essential part of the character of the park. They also played a major role in Patrick Pearse’s decision to base his school here in 1910. Of particular interest is the restoration work on Emmet’s Fort; this is now complete and its story encompasses the story of two great Irish patriots. It was built as miniature version of a 17th century five-pointed star-shaped military fort. Its name derives from a story that the revolutionary, Robert Emmet, would secretly meet his sweetheart Sarah Curran in the grounds of St. Enda’s, which was then called The Hermitage.

Six other follies were also restored in 2013 as part of  Phase 1 of the 1916 commemoration plans for the Park. The restored follies include three rustic arches, a faux-ruined niche, a faux-cromlech and an enclosed compound which is sometimes referred to as the “Druids Glen”. It contains what looks like an ancient portal or doorway, not unlike that those which can be seen in Newgrange or other ancient Irish burial mounds. Pearse often used these structures as a backdrop to the open air plays and pageants which his pupils performed in the grounds.

‘From A Hermitage to Harlem: Pearse in America, 1914’ will be on view in the Pearse Museum from Sunday 2nd March. Admission Free.

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For further information on the Pearse Museum/St. Enda's Park please contact 01 493 4208 or see www.heritageireland.ie

If you wish to interview Minister Hayes please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 046 942 6128, 087 947 5552 or colette.davis@opw.ie