Groups dressed as pikemen and women of the 1798 and 1803 risings marched through Killarney, Co Kerry, this weekend to mark the town's first celebration of its close links with Robert Emmet, whose mother was born there.
An arched bridge, thought to have its origins in the 18th century, and a town park, near the former family home and estate on the edge of the National Park, were named after Emmet.
The parade was reviewed by the Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, Canon Brian Lougheed of the Church of Ireland, clergy from other denominations, the mayor of Killarney, Mr Michael Courtney, and councillors.
Pike groups from Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow, Cork, Limerick and the midlands, were led by the Gleneagle Brass and Reed Band.
An interdenominational service was held afterwards at St Mary's Church of Ireland. Other events took place on Sunday in Newmarket, Co Cork, where Sarah Curran, to whom Emmet was secretly engaged, is buried.
Robert Emmet's mother, Elizabeth Mason, came from a merchant family at Ballydowney House and there is speculation that Emmet himself may have been born there. He more than likely visited the Mason home regularly as a young man and student, said Mr Richard Behal, organiser of the commemoration.
He said there needed to be more research carried out into these historical connections. Little work had been done on United Irishmen activity in the Kerry area.
The Killarney link is one of a number of Kerry connections being investigated. In the early 1980s, a skull was unearthed by a local garda in a churchyard at Blennerville near Tralee. A headless body had been found some years earlier. Local antique dealer and broadcaster Mr Maurice O'Keeffe is seeking to trace the female line of the Emmet/Mason family to provide DNA in order to have the skull exhumed.