Ceremony underway outside GPO to mark Easter Rising

A military ceremony is underway outside the GPO in Dublin to mark the 97th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Earlier President Michael D Higgins and the Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the annual state commemoration at Arbour Hill in Dublin.

Up to 350 troops from all formations of the Irish Defence Forces are on parade outside the GPO to mark today's occasion.

President Michael D Higgins was invited to inspect a Guard of Honour when he arrived after attending a commemoration at Arbour Hill where the leaders of the Rising are buried.

The Solemn Ceremony will be led shortly by the President, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

They will involve prayers of remembrance and a reading of the Proclamation.

President Higgins will then lay a wreath in honour of those who lost their lives in the fight for Irish freedom.

The tricolour will be lowered for the event and in around half an hour, the Air Corps will perform a Fly Past in the skies over O'Connell Street.

Read More: