Salute to roots of freedom on GPO steps

THE 1916 Easter Rising was remembered yesterday in a commemoration at the GPO, where the War of Independence began 92 years ago.

Several hundred members of the permanent and reserve defence forces lined O’Connell Street in Dublin for the 20-minute open-air service, which was attended by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, President Mary McAleese with her husband Dr Martin McAleese, and Defence Minister Willie O’Dea.

About 2,000 members of the public, as well as army families and veterans, gathered behind cordons to watch the service, which was revived in 2006 to mark the 90th anniversary of the rebellion and has since become an annual event.