LARGE CROWDS TURNED out as Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin began commemorations to honour those who died during Easter Week 1916.
Ceremonial events took place which included the laying of wreaths at the Sigerson Monument and the graves of Edward Hollywood, the man who delivered the first tricolour flag to Ireland, and Peadar Kearney, the composer of Ireland’s first national anthem.
Arts Minister Heather Humphreys was joined by representatives of the British Ambassador, members of the Irish Defence forces and the chairman of Glasnevin Trust, John Green, this morning to begin the nationwide day of remembrance.
Humphreys said that the centenary celebrated last year has opened the minds of many Irish people to a deep history they did not know existed.
“Never in the history of our State have so many of our citizens been involved in shared historical and cultural initiatives. We didn’t just embrace our history, we thoroughly explored and interrogated it,” she said.
The centrepiece of the Easter events at Glasnevin was the raising of the tricolour at 9.40am by members of the Irish Defence Forces and the playing of the national anthem by a lone piper in the main courtyard of the cemetery.
John Green, chairman of Glasnevin Cemetery, said he hopes that more people visit the attraction to learn about Ireland’s past.
“In remembering Dora Sigerson (a major figure of the Irish Literary Revival), Edward Hollywood and Peadar Kearney each Easter Sunday morning, we hope to encourage today’s generations to explore the complex and intricate period in our history a century ago.”
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