Overview
- President Catherine Connolly laid a wreath at Arbour Hill on Wednesday in the 102nd State commemoration, her first time performing the duty as head of state.
- The ceremony combined a mass at the Church of the Most Sacred Heart, a blessing by Auxiliary Bishop Paul Dempsey, a guard of honour with Army music, and a minute’s silence.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Defence Minister Helen McEntee, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, Defence Forces Chief of Staff Rossa Mulcahy and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly attended.
- Descendants shared personal memories of those executed in 1916, with Lucille Redmond calling the event “sad, but beautiful” and others recalling family links to the Rising.
- Arbour Hill is the burial place of 14 executed leaders, including the seven signatories of the Proclamation, and this longest-running State commemoration is held each year on the first Wednesday on or after 3 May.