WE ASKED two students to create an artwork inspired by the 1916 period. Diarmuid McKenna (15) of Killina Presentation Secondary School, Co Offaly used pencils to depict a tenement family in Dublin, after researching life in 1916.

“I read up on life in 1916, found a picture on the web on my phone and drew it off that,” he said. “It took me a couple of hours. Seeing people living in the same area now, there’s a huge contrast.”

Chris Merton (17) of Wesley College Dublin, meanwhile, used pencil and watercolours for a picture of the GPO, Easter Rising HQ.

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“1916 was a turning point in who we are as a nation and the GPO is a huge monument of that time. The man on the side is Michael Collins, symbolising those who died for our rights.”