Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
ALL ACROSS THE country, people are remembering the events of 100 years ago as the Easter Rising kicked off the most tumultuous periods of recent Irish history.
We’ll kept you up to date on everything that happened across Dublin – where most of the official commemorations took place – and what you were doing in other areas of Ireland.
Good morning and happy Easter to you.
We’re here today to remember everything that happened in Dublin’s city centre 100 years ago, just before the Rising kicked off on Easter Monday.
It’s Sinéad O’Carroll with you for the day. Please get in touch and let us know how you’re celebrating the occasion.
The parade kicks off at 10am and it promises to be a pretty spectacular event with thousands of Defence Forces personnel involved and an unimaginable amount of preparation.
And they’re not done yet.
Our reporter Catherine Healy is out and about, catching some of the last-minute rehearsals.
If you’re still planning to get into the city, be aware that most of the roads are closed to traffic and everybody is being urged to take public transport (except for the Luas as the drivers went ahead with their strike action).
But, seriously, avoid bringing your own car. You’ll definitely regret it later.
The main Sunday Parade begins at 10am at Stephen’s Green, proceeds to the GPO and then ends at Bolton Street at around 3pm.
Here’s the route:
With the Flags for Schools initiative – where the Defence Forces delivered a tricolour to every primary school – children really got into the commemorations.
We’ve received countless videos and photos from teachers across the country, showing off their pupils projects.
The latest comes from St Joseph’s NS Tullamore. This pretty cool photo the culmination of serious organisation and a good drone camera.
And here’s the video:
From Catherine Healy who is still at the Royal College of Surgeons.
“This is where it all kicks in just a few minutes, outside the RCSI. Looking at the building today, it’s hard to imagine it housing an Irish Citizen Army garrison back in 1916. The ICA’s second in command, Michael Mallin, and Constance Markievicz were stationed here from the Tuesday of Easter Week until their surrender.
The RCSI is one of the few rebel-held buildings to have largely escaped significant damage during the violence. You can still see the bullet hole marks near its entrance from where I’m standing, though.
“I thought today was meant to be horrible but it’s really nice.”
“Give it time.”
“Oh yeah.”
Riveting weather chat amongst reporters here. What is the story though?
Met Eireann says that today will be “cool with a mix of bright or sunny spells and heavy showers of rain and hail, some of them prolonged in places, with a risk of thundery downpours”.
Windy in most areas, especially in Munster and much of Leinster, with fresh to strong southerly winds, veering southwesterly, but winds mostly moderate in the north and northwest. Maximum temperatures just 7 to 10 Celsius.
Passage East in Waterford has already seen some impressive hailstorms, according to reader Albert Cavallari.
And we are GO.
Here’s Siptu’s contribution on Liberty Hall.
The flags of five groups that took part in the Rising – the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, Cumann na mBan, Na Fianna and the Hibernian Rifles – in position and set as the parade begins.
There really isn’t that many people around yet though…
The gardaí are in great form, as usual, over on their Twitter account.
They’ll have representatives marching in the parade as well today.
The Sunday Independent has reproduced its report from 1916, with taglines of “Week of Horror” and “Thrilling Tales of Battle”.
Hearing the national anthem for the first time today – in the Stonebreakers’ Yard at Kilmainham Gaol.
There’s also a bit of a Mass happening there.
[Insert obvious joke]
People are starting to arrive in bigger numbers along the parade route.
Sky News is also covering today’s events:
“Ireland is commemorating the centenary of the Easter Rising against British rule with the largest public event in its history,” it says.
See the video here.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s first appearance was at the formal State ceremony in the Stonebreakers’ Yard where 15 the leaders of the Rising were executed between 3 and 12 May 1916.
Meanwhile, the flag carriers have arrived at Dublin Castle – the site of British rule in Ireland for so many years.
Morto for this person.
As always, the Irish abroad haven’t forgotten about the important days.
These lads are celebrating in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand.
Thanks to Brian O’Connor for sending in the photo. Have a good one!
Ah now, did we not tell ye about bringing in the cars?
The Defence Forces are on Snapchat and worth a follow for the day that’s in it.
Maybe we could all rate their drills like this?
More from our reporter Catherine Healy who is following the parade:
White lilies outside City Hall, a century after the building was seized by the Irish Citizen Army on the first day of the Rising. Dublin Castle next door was left alone but a policeman was shot dead at the castle’s Cork Hill gate, right behind us here, by Sean Connolly of the ICA. Connolly himself was later killed after being shot on the roof of City Hall.
Bertie has been spotted. And he’s not in the cheap seats.
That picture taken in front of one of the VIP stands on O’Connell Street.
TheJournal.ie has published a number of accounts from people whose first-hand experiences contributed to the rich patchwork of testimony that chronicles the events of 1916.
One from an unnamed nurse details how the hospital she worked in had no gas, electricity or sterilisation equipment.
“Tuesday was the first day that any wounded were brought. Nine of these were detained and the rest were treated and discharged. One of the badly wounded, Margaret Nolan who was a forewoman in Jacob’s factory died that day, as did also James Kelly – a schoolboy who was shot through the skull.
“Another schoolboy John (Seán) Healy aged 14, a member of the Fianna whose brain was hanging all over his forehead when he was brought in, died after two days. Another man, Patrick Harris, died also on Tuesday of laceration of the brain.
Our Rónán Duffy is set up now in the media centre at the GPO.
Lucky visitors will have the best view on the street when the parade proper reaches O’Connell Street.
RTÉ’s Áine Lawlor went to great lengths to get the story today – making this young lad take off his warm GAA jumper to show off his 1916 t-shirt.
What follows is the best two minutes of TV we’ve got today.
By far.
Other highlights from RTÉ’s chats with parade-goers included the kid who said that he’s learned the names of all the signatories AND how to spell them.
Not a mean feat, in fairness. That’s a lot of fadas.
Carrying the national flag is Lt Gearoid O’Briain, great-grandson of Cathal Brugha.
Here’s Cormac Fitzgerald‘s view from North Frederick Street. The crowds are really out now.
We’re under way now at the GPO and it’s all looking very impressive.
Scenes from O’Connell Street:
There’s the Taoiseach now inspecting the guard opposite the GPO.
Meanwhile, the President has arrived.
Huge pride being felt around the city right now.
People looking forward to the reading of the Proclamation and *really* looking forward to the fly-pass.
The inspections of the guards all went off without incident there.
Luckily everyone’s shoes were shined, ties straight and buttons sparkling.
Fr Seamus Madigan says a prayer for all those lost their lives and fought for Ireland in 1916. He has been the head chaplain to the army since last September.
He hopes for peace and reconciliation in the century that stretches before us.
Children have come forward with a piper band to lay daffodils.
Before the children came out, we heard some powerful words from Fr Madigan.
Some beautiful music from the Defence Force’s Number 1 Band and Band of 2 Brigade under the baton of Captain Feargal Carroll.
The Proclamation is being read by Captain Peter Kelleher now.
He is from Douglas in Cork and joined the army in May 1999. He has served overseas three times, two of which have been as an officer.
His grandfather and granduncle were both members of the 1 Southern Brigade old IRA in West Cork. Both served during the War of Independence. He gave his wife his grandfather’s War of Independence medal on their wedding day as a token of all he owns.
His granduncle was shot and wounded in a confrontation with the Black and Tans and died of sepsis from the bullet wound while evading capture.
Captain Kelleher is doing a very impressive job here of reading the Proclamation.
Goosebump moment as the entire crowd is silence.
This will certainly be a moment to remember for these kids.
Hopefully we’ll have a better quality video of the Proclamation reading soon, but this will give a sense of how moving it was.
Dublin really is looking incredible today.
We’ve had a minute silence, followed by more music from the army bands at the GPO.
Next up, the tricolour will be hoisted to full mast and we’ll have Amhrán na bhFiann and a fly-past.
Hard not to get VERY patriotic during that upbeat version of the national anthem while watching the fly-past.
Here’s a rough version in case you missed it (along with some spontaneous, unintentional commentary).
Our editor Susan Daly managed to capture this view of the fly-past which gives a better impression of the power of the moment.
The parade continues now as 3,000 troops make their way across the city. It’s expected to continue until 3pm.
Nothing quite like a rendition of Danny Boy to get the emotions stirring.
*cries*
A beautiful shot of Una O Callanáin at the Stonebreakers’ Yard in Kilmainham Gaol earlier today following the private wreath-laying ceremony for the 15 leaders of the 1916 Rising who were executed there.
She takes a closer look at the memorial wall where her grandfather Michael Mallin was killed.
Captain Peter Kelleher – who read the Proclamation – is a pretty popular fella right now.
Here’s that reading of the Proclamation, in full.
*waves tricolour*
It’s not all shiny shoes and music for our military…
We’ll have a collection of great shots from today for you soon but first this from Keith Gordon Photography – a shot of the original proclamation that is displayed in the main foyer of Leinster House.
Some important weather and apparel updates from Rónán Duffy.
Pride is the word of the day, for sure.
Also, everybody is DELIGHTED the rain held off.
Pats on the backs, all round.
A few things we missed out on earlier.
*applause emoji*
*heart swells*
Never gets old.
Some shots from outside of Dublin. This just in from Dingle.
There’s also a large crowd gathered for the event on the Falls Road in Belfast.
Proof in the comments section that even the most cynical were moved today.
Looks like a NASA launch room…
As the huge choral event gets underway in Dublin Castle, the Defence Forces personnel are rightly feeling proud of themselves.
Those ponchos though.
As the official events wind down, we’ve collected some of the best images of the day for you here.
And here are a couple of more favourites…
That’s it from us today.
We hope you enjoyed the commemorations – whether you were on the streets or cosied up in front of the telly.
We’ll be back tomorrow for more coverage of what’s happening around the country as the anniversary celebrations continue.
Happy Easter/chocolate eating.
Slán go foill.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Proper order, It can’t be one rule for some and another for others…all the kids were entered into a lottery style selection process, you can’t get any fairer than that.
@Jimmy Farrell: Read the article carefully and you’ll note that not all the children were included in the lottery. A system of privileged access exists favouring certain categories of applicants. Under this system, while the school is publicly funded, not all children are afforded equal access. This is immoral and should be illegal. The obvious solution in cases such as this, where a school is significantly over-subscribed, is to either build a bigger school and to bus the excess numbers to the nearest suitable school with sufficient accommodation in the interim, or to bus the excess indefinitely if building a school is not a financially viable option. The admission policies of school should be standardised nationally with possible exemption only in exceptional cases. We are supposed to be a democracy after all.
@Tomasz Irlandczik Krótki: why would siblings not get a place in the same school I don’t see a problem with they’re enrolment policy leftover places are a lottery this child’s name was in the lottery but his wasn’t chosen. It’s the same with most schools. The parents wanted a special accommodation for him because a previous principal verbally told them to move him to a feeder school and they took this as a guarantee of a place which was wrong.
@Tomasz Irlandczik Krótki: I did read it all, the children which aren’t included in the lottery are those whom have siblings already enrolled in the school for obvious reasons. For example imagine being a parent of 4 children and they’re all attending different secondary schools. Would be a nightmare trying to pick them up! All different uniforms, no handmedowns, different start and end times..
@Jimmy Farrell: So, get one in – and they’re all in! Wrong – privilidged access is unfair, and unacceptable.
@Fank Pulman: Its not privildeged if the siblings rules applies for all families!…What on earth is there to be gained from splitting up and separating a child from going to school with her brothers and sisters??
@Jimmy Farrell: and what about children of past pupils? Do you agree with that in a schools funded by the state?
@Paul Fahey: yep generally keeps the riff raff out!
@Paul Fahey: Yes, why not? Everyones parents went to school somewhere..if they want to go to that school let them
@Jimmy Farrell: All families!!? Except new ones¡¡¡
@Fank Pulman: This is our school – all my family came here, so my children get priority over everbody else! Can you not see anything wrong with that ‘logic’…¿?
@Fank Pulman: No i dont see anything wrong with that logic, once the rule applies for every school! If your first child starts in a new school (ie. New family as you say) at least their brothers and sisters are guaranteed a place their too!
@Jimmy Farrell: to be fair. If your other children are going there then yes preference should be for those children. But this nonsense of my brother or father used to go here so I should be a shoe in is ridiculous. That should not be allowed.
@Jimmy Farrell: So if I am forced (for work) to move to Mayo, my children – in your view, have to wait for a place; and, say, an excellent academic record is irrelevant. As well as everything else!?
@Jimmy Farrell: so say a family, say like mine, move to an area in Dublin and live there and contribute to the local society for years. A young couple move back to the area after years in Dubai, but because they have a parental link to the school, but my parents went to school in Tipperary, their children get priority over mine. You think this is quotable and justifiable?
@Paul Fahey: Ok its not like your child wont get a place in a school! Everyone just wants a school on their door step. I had to get a 50min bus to school everyday for 5 years! And had to walk 2 miles on a main road in the middle of nowhere with lorrys and cars flying past to get the bus and the same home again, the same in the pitch black of winter i might add! But I’m not complaining i didnt get the local school, mine was in the next town!
@Paul Fahey: so most schools not have catchment areas they service first? That said the number of students taking the trains in the mornings is ridiculous
@Paul Fahey: Yes Paul. Schools are communities and past pupils contribute enormously to the identity and culture of that community.
@Fank Pulman: you don’t have kids do you ?
@Tomasz Irlandczik Krótki: These parents werent worried about a fair lottery when they wrongly assumed their child would get into the school. They’re only bothered now because they’re “we no important people” attitude didnt work
@Thomas McGilly: what identity and culture is it you talk of? Do you mean largely white and catholic only I cannot think of any other.
@Paul Fahey: There is more to a identity and culture than colour and creed. Businesses, sports clubs etc have identities and cultures while potentially having a multitude of different races and world views. It’s a way of doing things that are dear to the school as a community that past pupils know and understand. They (past pupils) also helped create that culture. Having that commitment to a school adds huge value to a school.
@Thomas McGilly: and yet you have failed to identify the “identity and culture”, odd that. Also, companies are subject to equality laws, but religious schools are not fully.
So what is this identity and culture? How is it different for people who have lived in Dublin all their lives, but their parents went to school in Tipperary?
@Jimmy Farrell: you and those supporting you are the reason that disabled children are consistently victimised and denyed entry to schools. No one wants our children because of the extra time and effort involved, and they refuse to apply their own principle of siblings getting preferred entry if the sibling is disabled.
This country is the only one not to have signed the UN Convention of the rights of people with disabilities, and it is because of people like you that they are allowed to get away with it. Mucsavages rule us, and people like you facilitate it. No one should in the 21st century be supporting school entry policies that marginalise and exclude children who don’t have the right parents/siblings or ability.
Either you have deliberately ignored the entry policy of the school above, or you can’t read. Either way it helps to understand how the Irish meekly took on EU bank debt, and hung it round the neck of your children and grandchildren. We are not the fighting Irish, we are the spineless Irish.
@Paul Fahey: Each school, including those with no religious identity, has an identity i.e. what makes them unique, and a culture, i.e. the way they do things and why they do things that way. It varies from school to school. It could be for example, one school places emphasis on academic achievement, exam results, does not have LCA. Relationships in that school could be very formal with students having to make appointments to see teachers. Another school might place emphasis on personal development with an emphasis on wellbeing, has LCA and relationships are less formal. That is their culture and identity. Equality legislation has nothing to do with this particular case. Finally, in practical terms, the Tipp parents example is not a realistic one unless the parents moved to Tipp.
@Jimmy Farrell: they do it to families who have a disabled sibling all the time. Are you ok with that?
@Thomas McGilly: nonsense, you seem to be suggesting that a school striving for academic excellence is a local phenomenon. The Tipp scenario is actually mine; I moved to London and now live in Dalkey, but my parents still reside in Tipp and went to school in Tipp. After 15 years in Dalkey, why should any other family take precedence over mine?
Excellent, the PC lot wont be happy.
@Paul: don’t know how you arrived there, the details in the article are vague and scant
The problem here is not a flawed enrolment policy. It is that the Dept. of Education will not supply enough classrooms to accommodate all the pupils who apply. The Minister then trying to railroad a school into not adhering to its stated enrolment criteria is entirely disingenuous.
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair:
Is there any kid in the entire country who can’t attend school because no places are available? No.
The issue is that certain schools are oversubscribed and certain schools are undersubscribed, which could be for geographical reasons, reputational reasons, convenience reasons etc. etc. etc..
I wonder is there more to this story that we are not being told ?
@David Conroy: I bet there’s a believing in the right fairies angle to it that is not being shared.
@David Conroy: probably not. Just a tale of a parent, a school and its admission policies and a court.
So 100 more pupils apply to a school than available places. Dept. provides 4 extra classrooms and normal increase in staff as necessary. Problem solved.
The legal fees in this case would have provided the resources for above simple solution.
The Dept. of education is a complete farce.
@Liam McGowan: but people are enroling to multiple schools. A proper state or council controled enrolment system should be put in place.
The real story here as any teacher knows is that the Dept of Education are terrified of Joe Duffy and always side with the parents in these situations. Fair play to the school for standing up for their enrolment policy. It may (or may not) be flawed but it’s a policy. There are (usually) other schools in the locality.
One of our local schools insists that the teaching of all subjects is done in Irish (even English!) – a total waste for those of us who chose to work abroad.
@Fank Pulman: You mean it’s a GaelCholáiste? Which obviously isn’t a waste for those who want their children educated through Irish. I will also presume there is a demand for it, otherwise it wouldn’t be there.
@Fank Pulman: One of your local schools? So there’s a choice there? What is the relevance to this article except to release some of your constant, pent up hatred for a language. Go away there and have a good ould self-flagellation for yourself!
@Fank Pulman: equally to teach them in English is futile if you are going to work abroad in a non-English speaking country.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: Aww calm down chaps¡ In my opinion – it is very important to travel in life, and to live in different cultures, countries and environments. I have worked in NYC, Sydney, London and several EU countries; NOWHERE was my gaeilge any help – but if parents want their childten to learn it, fine. But mine won’t – except if they want yo, when they get older.
@Fank Pulman: look at you, claiming to know about schools… Almost fooling us that you went to one!
@Brown Boots: I did BB…to a school where I was forced to speak Irish, play hurling and be a catholic. Now I have nothing to do with the three…
@Fank Pulman: Well done. And I too have worked in a range of countries on 2 different continents. But I found Irish invaluable with some of my colleagues as a language we could converse freely in knowing NOBODY else knew what we were talking about. Apart from one unfortunate incident in a restuarant in Lisbon!!!
@Fank Pulman: frank are you a special needs person
@sean o’dhubhghaill: Just a bit of a laugh then – no good for work! Yet we insist that EU documentation is translated into Irish – and then shredded, unread by anyone…
@Paul O Faolain: are you O¿
@Fank Pulman: did you learn any other language in school you went on to use for work?
@Fank Pulman: So English is taught through Irish!!? Ha ha! You are an idiot.
@Fank Pulman: That’s no reason why your children wouldn’t be capable of learning another language. You might as well say that you had a bully of a teacher for maths so your children are obliged to skip geometry. It’s just eccentric, sorry.
The grammar alone will stand to them. English just doesn’t have the tenses to compare with other languages, so any new language they learn as adults will be easier for them. Hundreds of thousands of Americans speak it fluently, by the way. It’s taught differently now.
@Fank Pulman: also Frank, studies have shown that children who are bilingual from an early age pick up additional languages far more readily later on..
Though I agree that boots family didn’t have a car, how much did all this legal action cost and what budget did it come from?
Good
Nuts
Our Constitution states that all children are treated equally
Did the judges not read the constitution before the made the Judgment
@pat seery:
Tell that to the parent who has to be in four different places at once to collect four children from four schools.
For heaven sake if his friends are there he should be allowed .its so important to have your friends from primary school with you and that’s only one reason .
have your say