President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attended the battle of the Somme commemoration in Dublin today.
Today's ceremony was the first State commemoration of the battle, which raged from July to November 1916.
An estimated 3,500 soldiers from Ireland died.
The event was held at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge, and was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and a host of dignatories from both parts of Ireland and abroad.
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A wreath was laid by President McAleese and also by the Ambassadors from all eight countries which fought in the battle, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Australia.