President Michael D Higgins led a special commemoration marking the 104th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising on Sunday.
The ceremony took place at Áras an Uachtaráin and the GPO, the rebels’ headquarters during the 1916 Rising.
The ceremony began with President Higgins ringing the Peace Bell at Áras an Uachtaráin, followed by a prayer and a reading of the Proclamation. President Higgins then laid a wreath at a group of 16 birch trees that were planted by himself and Sabina in honour of the revolutionaries executed after the 1916 Rising. The laying of the wreath was followed by a minute’s silence, commemorating those who died in the Easter Rising as well as the victims of the COVID19 pandemic.
Read the President's Statement on the Easter Commemoration Programme here.
In 2016, President Higgins led a series of events commemorating the 1916 Rising. A selection of the President’s speeches during the centenary year have been published by the Government: ‘Ceiliúradh agus Comóradh Céad Bliain 1916 – 1916 Centenary Commemorations and Celebrations’ holds 35 speeches by President Higgins. They were delivered all around Ireland over a 2-year period, straddling the core centenary year of 2016 at both local and national events.
The book is available via the Government Publications Office, and for download online (free of charge).
