Dublin prepares for Easter Rising commemoration

Final preparations were being made in Dublin today for an historic parade of Ireland’s Defence Forces marking the 1916 Easter Rising.

Up to 100,000 spectators are expected to line the city centre streets tomorrow as the two hour military parade winds its way towards the iconic GPO building on O’Connell Street, where the rebellion began.

Some 2,500 members of the army, navy and air corps will take part in what Taoiseach Bertie Ahern claimed should be an inclusive commemoration of all those who died in the revolution.

Hundreds of invited guests, including relatives of those who fought in the rebellion and British Ambassador Stewart Eldon, will review the ceremony from a stand at the front of the GPO.

But unionist politicians from the north have declined an invitation to attend, insisting the 90th anniversary parade will romanticise violent revolution.

Democratic Unionist and Ulster Unionist MLAs are angered over what they believe is a glorification of the IRA’s armed struggle, which left more than 3,000 people dead over three decades.

It is the first time in 40 years that a military parade has been used to mark the 1916 Rising when revolutionary leader read the proclamation of the Republic on the steps of the GPO.

The display was halted when the north became gripped by the violence of the Troubles.

The day’s events begin with a wreath laying ceremony in Kilmainham Gaol, lead by Mr Ahern, in memory of both civilian and military deaths during the rebellion.

The parade will begin at Dublin Castle moving past the front of Trinity College before crossing the River Liffey on to the capital’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street where it will pause.

The tricolour on top of the GPO will be lowered to half-mast before a military officer will read the Proclamation in front of a 100-man guard of honour.

Mr Ahern will invite President Mary McAleese to lay a wreath, the last post will sound and a minute’s silence will be held.

The flag will be hoisted back to full mast before the national anthem is played.

The parade will be made up of 2,500 personnel representing the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. Members of the Irish UN Veterans

Association and the Organisation of Ex-Servicemen and Ex-Service women will take part.

A contingent of officers from An Garda Siochana will also march, representing the force’s role in UN Peacekeeping missions.

Big screens have been erected along the route as viewing restrictions are in place along O’Connell Street.

Due to roadworks in the area, and in a bid to prevent a reoccurrence of the riots which erupted ahead of a march by unionist victims of IRA violence in February, a large section of the street is not open to the public.

Gardaí spent Friday inspecting drains in bid to ensure tight security for the commemoration. The City Council was also asked to seal all bins on the route.