Mr. Turtle Bunbury, the award-winning historian, was the featured guest at the 1916 Commemorative Cultural Event hosted by the Consul General of Ireland in Chicago in conjunction with The Irish Georgian Society.  Turtle Bunbury’s presence at this event to mark the Centennial of 1916 Rising was made possible by Rose Marie O’Neill, a long standing supporter of the Society and Mr. John Vaile, an active supporter of the Society and member of the Chicago Committee.  Orla McBreen, the recently arrived Irish Consul General, presiding over the proceedings, which included music and Turtle’s presentation based on his book, The 1916 Rising – The Photographic Record.

Mary McCain, Director of the DePaul Irish Studies Program interviewing Turtle Bunbury

The event was held at the Chicago Cultural Center, completed in 1897 as Chicago’s first central public library. It contains the world’s largest stained glass Louis Comfort Tiffany dome – 38 feet in diameter with some 30,000 pieces of glass.

The Consul General of Ireland, Orla McBreen, introducing Mr. Turtle Bunbury and his presentation: 'Easter Dawn, Alternative Perspectives on 1916'

One of the domes at The Chicago Cultural Center, the former Chicago Public Library, completed in 1897

Judge John Curry, Professor Mary McCain, former United States Ambassador to Ireland James Kenny

Patti Fahey of the Chicago Chapter posing a question to the speaker

Mr. Turtle Bunbury making an impassioned point to a spellbound crowd

Rick Danaher and friends

View more pictures from the evening on our facebook page.

Photographs: Michael Mascari