Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
70. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the Decade of Centenaries commemorative events she has attended since 26 March 2016; and the commemorative events she hopes to attend during the remainder of 2017. [22974/17]
View answerI have attended a large number of commemorative events since Easter Saturday, 26th March 2016, as part of the Decade of Centenaries commemorative programme.
The 1916 centenary commemorations were inclusive, respectful and measured and sought to strengthen peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. Never in the history of our State have so many of our citizens been involved in shared historical and cultural events that honoured the courage, dignity, and ideals of the events and personalities of that tumultuous time in our history. A million people came out on to the streets of Dublin over the Easter weekend in 2016 – in an extraordinary celebration and commemoration, the like of which we may never see again in our lifetimes.
Last year we also commemorated the Battle of the Somme. I travelled to the site of the Battle of the Somme at Thiepval in Northern France on July 1st to participate in the commemoration, which was jointly hosted by the French and British Governments. I returned to France in September, to remember the fateful events which took place in Guillemont 100 years previously.
This year I also attended official State ceremonies to commemorations to mark the Easter Rising and just last week, I attended commemorations of the Battle of Messines Ridge at the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines, which were jointly led by the Governments of Ireland and the UK, in partnership with the Mayor of Messines.
Commemorating these events has deepened our understanding of the context of that time – an understanding which is respectful of alternative perspectives and which has contributed towards a society that is more knowledge of its complex history.
The full list of State Ceremonial events which I attended since 26th March 2016, is set out in the table to this reply which will be published in the official report. In addition to these formal State ceremonial events, I attended a range of cultural, educational, historical and ceremonial events which were supported by the State, or led at local authority or community level.
As Minister with responsibility for Commemorations I will continue to attend many events over the coming period, including for example, the State Ceremonial event to honour poet Francis Ledgewidge in Slane on the 24th of June. In terms of the overall approach to the Decade of Centenaries, the Government will be continue to guided by the advice of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations in this regard.
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Date |
State and Ceremonial Commemorative Event |
|
26/03/2016 |
State Commemoration in the Garden of Remembrance for those who died during the 1916 Rising. State Ceremonial Event in the RDS for the relatives of those who fought during the 1916 rising. |
|
27/03/2016 |
State Commemoration in Glasnevin Cemetery, including wreath-laying ceremonies at the Sigerson Monument and graves of Edward Hollywood and Peadar Kearney. Easter Sunday State Commemoration and Parade at the GPO. |
|
28/03/2016 |
Wreath-laying ceremony at Moore Street, which was one of a number of synchronised wreath-laying ceremonies on Easter Monday in Dublin and various regional locations. |
|
03/04/2016 |
Interfaith Service at Glasnevin Cemetery. |
|
10/04/2016 |
Rising to Reconciliation Ceremonial Event at the Abbey Theatre. |
|
24/04/2016 |
State Commemoration at Arbour Hill |
|
26/05/2016 |
State Ceremonial Event in Grangegorman Cemetery to remember the British Soldiers who died during the 1916 Rising. |
|
01/07/2016 |
Commemoration of the Battle of the Somme at the Thiepval Monument in France, jointly hosted by the French and British Governments. |
|
09/07/2016 |
State Commemoration of the Battle of the Somme at the Irish National War Memorial Park, Islandbridge |
|
03/09/2016 |
Wreath-laying ceremony at the location of the original Ginchy Cross at Guillemont, France. |
|
13/11/2016 |
Inauguration in Glasnevin Cemetery of the Ireland France Memorial, which commemorates the contribution of Irishmen to the defence and freedom of France. |
|
16/04/2017 |
State Commemoration in Glasnevin Cemetery, including wreath-laying ceremonies at the Sigerson Monument and graves of Edward Hollywood and Peadar Kearney. Easter Sunday State Commemoration and Parade at the GPO. |
|
03/05/2017 |
State Commemoration at Arbour Hill. |
|
09/06/2017 |
State commemoration at Wytschaete Cemetery. Joint Irish and British Commemoration of the Battle of Messines, Island of Ireland Peace Park, Messines. State commemoration at the graveside of Major Willie Redmond. |
