5 April 2015: State commemoration of 99th anniversary of Easter Rising, O’Connell St, Dublin 2

On Sunday 5 April 2015 the official state ceremony  marking the 99th Anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916 took place outside the GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin 2 from 12pm onwards. The ceremony by led by the President Michael D. Higgins, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and Defence Minister Simon Coveney TD.

At noon the National Flag was lowered and the 1916 Proclamation was read by an officer of the Defence Forces. President Higgins then laid a wreath to commemorate those who died in 1916, and a minute’s silence was observed.

Defence Forces Personnel, including a brass band, a pipe band and representatives of the Army, the Air Corps and Naval Service all took part in the Ceremony, which concluded with an Air Corps fly-past. Public viewing areas were located outside the GPO.

Read Fearghal McGarry’s account of the Easter Rising from the International encyclopaedia of the First World War; watch a contemporary British Pathé newsreel of the aftermath of the Easter Rising in Dublin; explore the National Library of Ireland’s online exhibition on the Easter Rising: and browse History Ireland’s 2006 special issue, published on the ninetieth anniversary of the Easter Rising.