President Michael D Higgins and Minister for Arts, Heritage & the Gaelteacht Heather Humphreys TD, accompanied by Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM opened the new Military Archives building in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines.
One of the files on display was that of President Higgins' father, Lieutenant John Higgins, who served as an Intelligence Officer in the Cork 2 Brigade of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence. President Higgins' two uncles and aunt (Peter, Michael & Kitty) all took part and their files are available to view alongside 300,000 other files contained the Military Service Pensions Collection, many still being digitised as part of the ongoing project.
Click on the links below for video, audio, photos and text of the event.