In this essay, I will explore how the 1916 Easter Rising became a part of public memory in both Northern and Southern Ireland, and explore commemoration efforts from 1916 until the 2016 centennial. I will do so using historical accounts from citizens of Dublin during the Rising, interviews I conducted with prominent curators and historians who helped create exhibits for the 2016 centennial, and through archival materials concerning previous commemorations. The significance of my observations is that while the rebellion failed in its overall goal of achieving independence the memory of the Rising through public memory became the catalyst for the War for Irish Independence, and ultimately an annual commemoration celebrated in Southern Ireland.