Hanafin represents Ireland at Somme commemorations

The Minister for Education Mary Hanafin is representing the Government at the Battle of the Somme commemorations in France today.

She will be attending ceremonies in Thiepval and Guillemont, two of the main sites involving Irish soldiers in World War One, marking the 90th anniversary of the start of the horrific battle.

20,000 British or Commonwealth soldiers were killed on what remains the bloodiest day in the history of the British army. In all, 250,000 died in the course of the four-month battle, about 3,500 from the island of Ireland.

Meanwhile, President Mary McAleese and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will attend state ceremonies in Dublin today.

Minister Hanafin said that it shows how times have moved on that the Irish are remembering the tragic events at the Somme.

“I think it’s a sign of the maturity of the Irish people that we are holding a state commemoration in Dublin. Again, there are people from all over the county coming to pay their respects.

“It shows that now, as mature countries, we can remember our shared history and hopefully work forward into a shared future,” she said.