Ireland

President Higgins leads Easter Rising commemorations

Politicians and Defence Forces attend ceremony on O’Connell Street, Dublin

President Micheal D Higgins accompanied by Captain Eoghan O’Sullivan inspecting the guard of honour drawn from the 7th Infantry Battalion Cathal Brugha Barracks during the 99th Anniversary of the Easter Rising at the GPO. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
President Micheal D Higgins accompanied by Captain Eoghan O’Sullivan inspecting the guard of honour drawn from the 7th Infantry Battalion Cathal Brugha Barracks during the 99th Anniversary of the Easter Rising at the GPO. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Fiach Kelly
Sun Apr 05 2015 - 14:59

President Michael D Higgins led the Easter Rising commemorations in Dublin today, which culminated in four Air Corps planes flying over O’Connell Street.

At the invitation of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, President Higgins laid a wreath outside the GPO in remembrance of those who died during Easter week 1916 and the Proclamation was read by Captain Kate Hanrahan.

Monsignor Eoin Thyne, the defence forces chaplain, said a prayer of remembrances honouring “without hierarchy of victimhood, the women and children and all the dead of the rising”.

President Micheal D Higgins lays a wreath outside the GPO on O’Connell Street in Dublin as part of the Easter Sunday commemoration ceremony. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
President Micheal D Higgins lays a wreath outside the GPO on O’Connell Street in Dublin as part of the Easter Sunday commemoration ceremony. Photograph: Cyril Byrne

“We stand together in our determination to ensure that our country will honour the ambition set out in the Proclamation, to be a republic which cherishes its children equally not just in lofty words but in everyday deeds,” Msgr Thyne added.

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Others present included Tánaiste Joan Burton Minister for Defence Simon Coveney, Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys, Attorney General Máire Whelan, Chief Justice Susan Denham, Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe, Ministers of State Tom Hayes, Simon Harris and Aodhan Ó’Riordáin, Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary-Lou McDonald and SDLP leader Alastair McDonnell.