PLANS TO CELEBRATE the Easter Rising by introducing a bank holiday have been rejected by Arts Minister Heather Humphreys.

The proposal was put forward by Sinn Féín which wanted to celebrate Lá na Poblachta every year on 24 April.

But Humphreys poured cold water on the idea last night.

She said: “When this Bill was originally brought forward in October of 2015, preparations were underway for the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.

Now, one year on, we are in a position to assess the commemorations to date, and to consider whether introducing an additional Bank Holiday on 24 April every year is necessary or advisable. My view is that it is neither.

While Humphreys said 2016 was a success for the centenary celebrations, there will still not be any official day to commemorate the insurrection.

Celebration

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh had said a public holiday would allow for annual commemoration of the Rising and would encourage study of citizenship and republicanism.

He said: “Given the huge and seemingly insatiable public appetite for the 1916 commemorations, both nationally and internationally, by local organisations and state bodies, by individual parties and by government, I believe it would be appropriate that we would designate as the public holiday ‘Lá na Poblachta’ the 24 April on an annual basis.”

Read: Gardaí investigating suspicious fire at landmark manor owned by JP McManus >

Read: Garda strike: Here’s the deal that’s being offered to gardaí >