RTÉ to screen live State funeral of 1916 rebel Kent

The State funeral of executed 1916 rebel Thomas Kent will be shown live on RTÉ TV later this month but the public can pay their respects, on the evening before, just yards from his resting place of the last 99 years.

Full military honours will be provided at the funeralwhich starts at 1.45pm on Friday, September 18, at St Nicholas Church in Castlelyons near Fermoy, Co Cork.

He will then be buried in the Kent family plot outside, not far from the house at Bawnard where Head Constable William Rowe was killed during a Royal Irish Constabulary attempt to arrest the local Irish Volunteers leader and his brothers during a post-Rising round-up on May 2, 1916.

While a limit on space in the church will restrict public access, the funeral can also be viewed in an area outside.

The reburial of his remains will include a military firing party, and the playing of the Last Post, the Reveille, and the National Anthem.

Cork Prison Officers Choir and an Army band will provide accompanying music during the ceremonies.

On the evening before, after a private sitting for Kent’s relatives, a 6pm prayer service in the chapel of Collins Barracks in Cork city will be held. The public are welcome to attend, although access may depend on space, and the chapel will stay open afterwards to allow respects to be paid.

It was in the grounds of the adjoining Cork prison, previously part of the barracks, that Kent’s remains were found during an archaeological dig in June in the spot he was long believed to have been buried.

There are over 1100 search results found for Thomas Kent in the Irish Examiner archive.  Whether you are a researcher, historian or you simply want to explore your history visit  www.irishexaminer.com/archive