A priest who inspired local communities through his Muintir na Tire organisation will be commemorated today by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
The 50th anniversary of the death of Canon John Hayes will be marked in Bansha, Co Tipperary, where he served as parish priest from 1947 until his death in 1957. Muintir na Tire has 1,220 active branches across Ireland.
Mr Ahern will today lay a wreath at Canon Hayes's grave in Bansha graveyard during a constituency tour.
Event spokesman Martin Quinn said: "Canon Hayes inspired communities to pursue their own local social, economic, environmental and cultural development. He promoted a form of patriotism based on self-reliance, neighbourliness and community spirit in serving the common good.
"He challenged people of local communities to put aside their apathy and become involved in local activities aimed at improving the quality of life for all," he said.
"In Bansha, he spearheaded many initiatives including rural electrification, the parish plan for agriculture and the setting up of small industry like the Bansha jam factory."
Canon Hayes was born in a Land League hut in Murroe, Co Limerick, in 1887. Five of his siblings died of malnutrition and disease before he turned seven.
He was educated at the Jesuit College in Limerick and began studying for the priesthood in St Patrick's College, Thurles.
In 1907, he went to the Irish College in Paris where he was ordained in 1913. From 1915 to 1924, Fr Hayes worked in Liverpool before returning home.