A CEREMONY TO mark the 110th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising is taking place outside the GPO on Dublin’s O’Connell Street today.

The ceremony, starting at midday, will be led by President Catherine Connolly, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister for Defence Helen McEntee.

Defence Forces’ Personnel, including a brass band, a pipe band and representatives of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service will take part in the ceremony, which will conclude with an Air Corps fly past, weather permitting. 

At noon, the National Flag on the GPO will be lowered, and the 1916 Proclamation will be read by an Officer from the Defence Forces.

The President will then lay a wreath to commemorate those who died in the 1916 Rising.

A minute’s silence will be observed.

This year marks twenty years since this type of annual commemoration resumed in 2006 after a 35-year absence due to sensitivities around The Troubles.

Michael D. Higgins at the 109th event, his last 1916 commemoration ceremony as President Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony today and are advised to be in position in the public viewing areas outside the GPO by 11.30 a.m.

Viewing areas are located at the Clery’s side of O’Connell Street and at the south end of the GPO. An area has been reserved for wheelchair users.

Large video screens will also be erected on either side of the GPO to display the ceremony to the public. A commemorative programme will be distributed on the day. 

A traffic management plan for the day has also been published, which details that local access will be facilitated, when possible, from all closure points. 

Traffic arriving from O’Connell Street will be diverted to Cathal Brugha Street – Marlborough Street – Gardener Street Lower – Beresford Place – Memorial Road.

Traffic arriving from O’Connell Street can be diverted to Cathal Brugha Street – Gardener Street Lower – Beresford Place – Memorial Road and 
traffic arriving from Eden Quay will be diverted to Beresford Place – Gardener Street Lower – Parnell Street.

The commemoration will also be broadcast live on RTÉ.