Queens College commemorates the 100th anniversary of a major moment in Irish history with a new exhibit. NY1's Clodagh McGowan reports.

Queens College staff members are hard at work, putting their finishing touches on an exhibit marking the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. It marks the date in 1916 when more than a thousand Irish republicans in Dublin rebelled to overthrow British rule in Ireland.

"The Easter rising really is the birth of Ireland, I would say," said Mary Glynn, an art librarian at Queens College.

The rebellion lasted for less than a week but is considered a pivotal moment on the Irish road to independence.

"The Irish had been suppressed since around the 1100's,” said Patricia McCloskey, a student in the Irish Studies Program. “Over and again they tried to rise up against the English and other outside forces to gain their independence back."

Organizers say the leaders of the 1916 rebellion were inspired by both the American and French revolutions.

"An unlikely group of scholars, poets, people who you might not expect at first to be involved in something that was daring, some people would say foolish," said Eileen Sprague, who runs the Queens Irish Oral History Project.

At the time Britain was focused on fighting in World War I and many buildings were left unguarded. By the time the rebellion was over, more than 500 people were dead. The rebel leaders were captured and executed.

"Even though it was a failed attempt, it seemed to spur on the Irish to make a tremendous push for their independence," said McCloskey.

That wouldn't come until 1949, when Ireland was declared a republic.

The exhibit follows the country's turbulent timeline, featuring pictures, replica newspaper articles and first edition poetry books from the era.

Organizers say it's a perfect fit for Queens College which has a long standing Irish Studies program.

"Wonderful courses are offered here. In literature, history, Irish language, folklore,” said Sprague.

The exhibit also spotlights the women of the Easter Rising who organizers say were largely unrecognized for their efforts

"[I’m] so happy to see them finally getting some credit," said Glynn.

The exhibit will be on display until June 20th.