Irish men and women around the world stand in reverence to their National Anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann (The Soldier’s Song) but do they know that Patrick Heaney composed the music in 1907 at his home Mecklenburgh Street (now Railway Street) in the heart of ‘Monto’, what was the infamous red-light district in Dublin’s North Inner City?

This year is the 100th anniversary of the death of Patrick Heaney who died in abject poverty in 1911 and lies buried in an unknown grave in Drumcondra.

The North Inner City Folklore Project is honouring him on Easter Monday by unveiling a plaque in his honour at the corner of Railway Street and Gardiner Street.

The event will open with a re-enactment of the hoisting of the Citizen Army flag at Liberty Hall by James Connolly and Molly O’Reilly in 1916. This will be recreated this Easter Monday at 12 noon on Monday 25th April outside Liberty Hall by the grandson of James Connolly, James Connolly-Herron, and the daughter of Molly O’Reilly, Constance Corcoran. Men and women dressed in period costume and uniforms will then lead a parade from Liberty Hall to the corner of Gardiner Street and Railway Street where the plaque will be unveiled.

The North Inner City Folklore Project is asking people to come along to the unveiling and to sing the National Anthem in Patrick Heeney’s honour. There will be a 1916-1923 photographic exhibition on display in a nearby community hall.

The community-based North Inner City Folklore Project wants the events to be non-party political.