The National Library of Ireland on Kildare Street in Dublin was my first step to writing about the 1916 Easter Rising.
This wonderful old library is one of my favourite places in Dublin. I am a library member and regularly visit it for research purposes. It contains a huge amount of literary and historical documents, manuscripts, books and photographs. The library is not just an archive of the past for us to discover, but also a national treasure trove for us to explore.
The NLI contains many of the important 1916 documents, letters and personal papers of those involved in the 1916 Rising and it was there I began my research into the Gifford family.
I was privileged to be able to get access to the Gifford, MacDonagh and Plunkett family papers. These papers are a huge resource for historians, academics, students and writers and for anyone who has an interest in history.
It was very fitting that after all my time researching and writing my book, Rebel Sisters, that it was launched in the National Library on 4th February 2016.
Signatories 1916, an exhibition based on the seven leaders of the Rising who signed the proclamation, is on display in the Main Hall of the Library throughout 2016.
Marita Conlon-McKenna 