Centenary of the Easter Rising

[1] A weekend of commemorations marking the occasion began on Easter Eve (26 March), as President Michael D. Higgins laid a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin.

It was shown live on RTÉ Television and was attended by President Higgins and his wife Sabina, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife Fionnuala, the Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl, former Presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, former Taoisigh Bertie Ahern (and his brother Noel), Brian Cowen and Liam Cosgrave, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, and Martin McGuinness (representing the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland).

[citation needed] On Easter Monday (28 March), President Higgins and Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny laid wreaths at the Stone Breakers' Yard in Kilmainham Gaol, scene of the 1916 executions.

Afterwards, there was a minute's silence, the "Piper's Lament" and the "Last Post" were played, then Army captain Glen Harmon held aloft a shining sword to serve as an introduction to the national anthem.

[6] That evening, RTÉ broadcast the 85-minute show Centenary, directed by Cillian Fennell, live from the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre; it had dance troupes, filmed pieces of people all across the world reading the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, and among the singers appearing were Imelda May, Dónal Lunny, Sharon Shannon and Colm Wilkinson.

President Higgins, Taoiseach Kenny, members of the Government, Oireachtas and judiciary attended a ceremony at Arbour Hill, where a requiem Mass was overseen by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.

Local events were held nationwide, including at Pádraig Pearse's Cottage in Rosmuc; in Carrick-on-Shannon (45 km from Kiltyclogher where Proclamation of Independence signatory Seán Mac Diarmada was born); and in Sligo (close to the estate of Constance Markievicz).