Moving ceremony at GPO as 1916 Rising heroes remembered
HUNDREDS gathered to observe the 102nd anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising ceremony at the GPO as President Michael D Higgins laid a wreath in memory of our nation’s fallen heroes.
The President arrived in a cavalcade, including 15 Defence Forces motorcycles riding ahead of his black presidential car, as a crowd of young and old tried to catch a glimpse of the head of state.
President Higgins strode towards the GPO to inspect the guard of honour, before laying a laurel wreath in memory of those who fought and died for Irish liberation.
The head chaplain to the Defence Forces, Fr Séamus Madigan, led a prayer in memory of those who paid with their lives for Irish freedom.
“We give thanks for their bravery,” Fr Madigan said as he asked Irish citizens to “remember ourselves to listen to the voices of the poor and disadvantaged”.
“Thank you, Lord, for our country, our people and our flag,” he added.
The priest urged Ireland to embrace diversity and “to see beauty in every person”.
He asked citizens to stop to “take time to be quiet” in “our busy world”.
A grey cloud descended on O’Connell Street as members of the public huddled together behind a boundary fence, most wrapped up in hats and scarves.
Relatives of those who died in the Rising and subsequent executions stood close to proceedings and paid their respects to their family members as a minute’s silence was held.
The Tricolour sitting atop the GPO was lowered to half mast as a tiny shard of sunshine peeped through the clouds of grey.
Captain Seán McCarthy from Borris, Co Clare, read the Proclamation of Independence as silence again descended upon the crowd.
Capt McCarthy, who has 16 years’ experience in the Defence Forces, has amassed 2000 flying hours across the Air Corps’ fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. He said yesterday was an
“immensely proud moment” for him and his family, including wife Edwina and son Harry, father Seán, mother Bernie and brother, Brian.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Health Minister Simon Harris, Education Minister Richard Bruton and former President Mary McAleese were in attendance, as was the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.
Two female members of the Defence Forces stood among 15 male colleagues in front of the GPO, as the names of the 1916 leaders were read out and greeted by sustained applause from the crowd.
A brass band, a pipe band and representatives of the Naval Service also took part in the ceremony before the moving and symbolic event concluded with a fly-past from the Air Corps.
Tributes were also paid to Peadar Kearney and Edward Hollywood during a ceremony at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. Mr Hollywood had brought the Tricolour to Ireland from France, carrying a message of peace and friendship. Mr Kearney had penned the original English lyrics of ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ in 1907.
Heritage Minister Josepha Madigan, who also laid a wreath in Glasnevin to commemorate the dead, said that it was “a great honour” to do so.