President Mary McAleese today placed a wreath at the GPO on O’Connell Street as part of a ceremony to commemorate the 1916 rising.
The ceremony, which started at noon, was attended by 300 Defence Force members drawn from the Army, Air Corps, Navy and Reserve forces. The Army Cadet School will form a guard of honour for the event and there will be a recital by the Army No 1 Band.
The flag on the top of the GPO was raised from half mast to full mast and the Piper’s Lament will be played. The Proclamation will be read by Capt Eoghan O’Sullivan of the Southern Brigade.
The event was attended by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Minister for Defence Tony Killeen and Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello.
This is the fourth year that official ceremonies have taken place at the GPO at Easter. It began with the revival of the tradition with a special parade in 2006 to mark the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.