Irish Easter Rising centenary to be marked in Gwynedd

A Gwynedd village where 1,800 Irish men were held prisoner following the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin is planning events to mark the centenary.

The rebels were interned at Frongoch, near Bala, after an armed revolt of Irish republicans against British rule.

Welsh government officials met community leaders on Thursday to discuss arrangements for the centenary.

Councillor Elwyn Edwards said it could have "real benefits" in attracting visitors from Ireland.

The camps at Frongoch became known as the 'University of Revolution'

He said people were already coming to Frongoch, keen to find out more about the former distillery where their grandparents had been detained.

"They want to know everything about what happened when their relatives were brought here by by train - they're really interested to find out all they can."

The camps had previously been used to hold German prisoners in the early years of World War 1.

The Easter Rising was defeated and many of its leaders executed, but some of those interned at Frongoch - including Michael Collins - survived to continue the struggle for Irish independence.

The General Post Office in Dublin was the rebels' headquarters during the Easter Rising