Unveiling 1916 Remembrance Wall Glasnevin 03 April 2016
The State ceremony associated with the unveiling of a Remembrance Wall, reflecting all who died during the course of the Easter Rising, took place in Glasnevin Cemetery on Sunday 3 April 2016. The names of those who died are displayed chronologically, without distinction between the different categories.
The ceremony was attended by acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys TD, British Ambassador H.E Dominick Chilcott, the US Ambassador H.E. Kevin O’Malley, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM Chief of Staff, Garda Commisser Nóirín O’Sullivan and GOC 2 Brigade Brigadier-General Michael Beary. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by the Minister for Justice David Ford.
On his arrival, the Taoiseach reviewed an Honour Guard drawn from the 1 Infantry Battalion, which also rendered military honours at the Wall. Prior to the formal unveiling, leaders of the main churches and faith groupings led prayers, followed by a reading by a representative of the Humanist Association of Ireland.
Welcoming the assembled guests, Mr John Green Chairman of the Glasnevin Trust said interalia:
“Today, we unveil the 488 names of those known to have died in the Easter Rising – 119 were serving in the British Army.”
“There were 268 civilians, 1 from Fianna Éireann, 5 from the Irish Association of Volunteer Training Corps, 15 members of the Irish Citizen Army, 63 Irish Volunteers and 17 Policemen.”
“There was no hierarchy, no judgement on this wall, essentially viewing the dead through a human prism.”
“ One hundred years on we believe this memorial reflects the time we live in, with the overwhelming majority of the Irish people wishing to live in peace and in reconciliation.”
“But it is for each visitor to take from the wall what they wish.”
Mr Green quoted from the foreword to the 1916 – 2016 centenary programme “ All lives are equal in value, and 2016 must be a year to which the narrative of everyone on the island of Ireland is inclusive and heard.”
An Taoiseach laid a wreath in honour of all those men, women and children who died during the Easter Rising. Instrumentalists drawn from the Army Number 1 Band sounded the Last Post and Reveille, following which, under the baton of Captain Fergal Carroll, the Army Number 1 Band played the National Anthem.
MHIT encourages readers to visit “1916 Necrology” available through the Glasnevin Trust’s website, which provides details of those who died during the Easter Rising and listed on the Memorial Wall.
A Glasnevin Trust initiative, the Memorial Wall was inspired by the International Memorial of Notre Dame de Lorette in France. This ‘Ring of Remembrance’ was inaugurated by the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Germany. It records in alphabetical order, without any distinction of nationality, rank or religion, the names of soldiers from all sides who lost their lives in the battlefields of Northern France during the First World War.
Photographs kindly provided by Patrick Hugh Lynch
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