The eight songs featured in the “Since 1916” project were written based upon true historical events in Ireland. These historical events took place at the locations included in this map.
To access each location, drag your cursor on the marker, where you will see a headline that describes what event occurred there. Next, click on the marker, where you will find an image and description of the historical event, along with the song corresponding to it. To see what the marked location looks like today, drag the “Pegman” in the box at the right of the map to each individual spot.
Inverness, Scottish Highlands: Jacobite Rising
Jacobite Rising
The song “Mo Ghile Mear” is a lament about the exile and defeat of Charles Edward Stuart, “Bonnie Charlie,” who was expected to help the Irish gain religious independence.
“Mo Ghile Mear” Sting and The Chieftains:
Easter Rising: Dublin, Ireland
Sinead O’Connor and the Chieftains lament the events of Easter Rising, a rising started by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland.
“The Foggy Dew” by Sinead O’Connor and The Chieftains:
Tensions in Dublin
“Come Out Ye Black and Tans” tells of the ongoing tensions between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
“Come Out Ye Black and Tans” by The Irish Descendants:
Magdalene Laundries: Donnybrook, Ireland
Donnybrook Laundries, the site of an abandoned asylum for “fallen women.” 155 unmarked graves were discovered and survivors reported atrocious conditions for mothers and children.
The Chieftains and Joni Mitchell recorded a song based on the situation:
Bloody Sunday: Londonderry, Ireland
British paratroopers shot 26 unarmed people, killing 14 of them, in a protest march against jailing suspected IRA members without a trial.
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2:
IRA Bombings: Warrington, England
“Zombie” by the Cranberries tells of the bombing on March 20, 1993 that killed three-year-old Johnathan Ball and twelve-year-old Tim Parry and left 56 people injured in Warrington, England. The IRA Provisional Army took responsibility for the attacks. Englishmen John Hayes and Patrick Taylor were sentenced to 30 years in jail, and were located by authorities 30 years after the bombing.
Bridge Street, where the attacks took place, is featured in the map.
“Zombie” by The Cranberries:
"Ode to My Family": Limerick, Ireland
This song depicts family life in Limerick, Ireland. The Cranberries were from Limerick and in the song, main singer Dolores O’Riordan poignantly sings about the life she had there.
“Ode to My Family” by The Cranberries:
"Take Me to Church": Inniscara Dam, Cork, Ireland
Singer Hozier wrote his song “Take Me to Church” after his observance of the Irish Catholic Church’s treatment and perception of the LGBTQ+ community. The location listed is Inniscara Dam, where the music video was filmed.
“Take Me to Church” by Hozier: