Annual Ceremony of Remembrance and Wreath Laying – 11 July 2026
Religious Service. Source: The Irish National War Memorial Trust
The Royal British Legion was established in Ireland in 1925 in the aftermath of the First World War and the Irish Civil War from an amalgam of Irish Great War Veteran Groups to support the many Irish individuals and families affected by the profound human cost of conflict.
The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland District, supported by the Irish Government, hosted its Annual Ceremony of Remembrance and Wreath Laying at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge, Dublin, on Saturday 11 July 2026, with the cooperation and assistance of the Office of Public Works and the Irish National War Memorial Trust.
Designed by internationally renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Irish National War Memorial Gardens are dedicated to the memory of Irish soldiers who died in both the First World War and in the Second World War.
The Annual Ceremony of Remembrance and Wreath Laying commemorates all those who lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, and in the two World Wars; especially the estimated 60,000 Irish men and women who served and died in those conflicts.
Reception of Civic Guests. Source: Patrick Hugh Lynch.
Representation from all parts and traditions of the island of Ireland remains a key feature of the ecumenical ceremony.
With the permission of the Irish National War Memorial Trust, the Replica Ginchy Cross which was dedicated on 12 July 2025 was erected on temporary display west of the War Stone by Mr Sven Habermann, Conservation Letterfrack, for the duration of the Ceremony.
For the Annual Ceremony of Remembrance and Wreath Laying, the eight volume Ireland’s Memorial Records, normally located in the South-East Bookroom, were laid on the War Stone. Volume 1 and Volume 8 were brought to the War Stone by students from The High School Dublin and Erne Integrated College Enniskillen escorted by the Distract Standards of the Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and accompanied by Company Sergeant Kevin Duncan, Defence Forces School of Music.
During the turbulent years of the War of Independence (1919–1921), and the Civil War (1922–1923), the War Memorial Committee, (now titled The Irish National War Memorial Trust) as an interim project for the War Memorial, focused their endeavors on the compilation, design, and production of a set of books titled Ireland’s Memorial Records (sometimes referred to as the Books of Remembrance).
Irish Memorial Records. Source: Irish National War Memorial Trust.
The Irish Memorial Records with illustrations by Henry Clarke, were completed in 1923. Consisting of eight volumes and 3,200 pages, the names of 49,435 Irish soldiers are recorded in Ireland’s Memorial Records, each entry stating the Name, Rank, Unit, Age, Where Born and Location of Death of the individual.
The Ceremony’s Presiding Officers were: Mr Paul Harris QMG, National Vice Chair of The Royal British Legion; Lieutenant-Colonel Ken Martin (Retd), President Royal British Legion (Republic of Ireland District); Colonel Neil Salisbury OBE DL (Retd), President Royal British Legion (Northern Ireland District); Mr Paul Stephenson, Chairman, Royal British Legion (Republic of Ireland District); and Mr Steven Lee, Chairman of Trustees Republic of Ireland District.
Reverend Peter Rutherford, Chaplain to the Royal British Legion, (Republic of Ireland District) and formally Assistant Chaplain General HM Forces, and Reverend Fr Paschal Hanrahan Chaplain to the Defence Forces, were the Officiating Clergy.
The Parade Marshal was Mr Ciaran Crone.
The flags of the three Irish divisions which fought in the First World War: the 10th (Irish), the 16th (Irish) and the 36th (Ulster) were flown at the Great Cross. The Irish Flag, the Flag of the United Kingdom, and the National and District Standards of the Royal British Legion were on parade. During the ceremony, the Royal British Legion Branches from Ireland, and Branches from Northern Ireland, paraded their Standards.
Mr Paul Stephenson, District Chairman of The Royal British Legion (Republic of Ireland District), gave the Welcoming Address.
The President of the Northern Ireland District, Colonel Neil Sailsbury OBE DL (Retd) delivered the Somme Address. Link to Somme Address: Somme Address 11 Jul 26
The lesson was read by Mr Paul Harris OGM, National Chairman, The Royal British Legion.
Dignitaries. Source: Patrick Hugh Lynch.
The Ceremony was held in the presence of government and civic leaders from Ireland and Northern Ireland, members of the Oireachtas, the Diplomatic Corps, the Judiciary, representatives of the Defence Forces, Royal British Legion Branches, Regimental Associations and Veterans Associations, and a considerable number of relatives of those who served in World War 1 and the Second World War.
The Military Heritage of Ireland Trust CLG was represented by its Chairman Brigadier-General Paul Fry (Retd). Directors and members of the Trust in attendance included: Ms Maeve Cadden, Colonel (Retd) Harvey Bicker, Brigadier (Retd) John Graham, Lieutenant-Colonel Eamonn Fogarty (Retd), Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd) Ken Martin, Reverend Peter Rutherford and Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham (Retd).
Wreaths at War Stone. Source: Irish National War Memorial Trust.
Under the direction of Mr Paul Stephenson, District Chairman, the Lords Mayor, Ministers, Ambassadors, Defence Forces, An Garda Siochána, the Judiciary, Royal British Legion, the Irish National War Memorial Trust, Regimental and Veterans Associations, and relatives laid wreaths at the War Stone.
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daryl Barrona and Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnely. Source: Partick Hugh Lynch
They included;
- The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daryl Barron; the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnely; Minister Robert Troy T.D. representing An Taoiseach and the Government of Ireland; Minister Aisling Reilly, representing the First Minister, Northern Ireland Executive; Emma Little-Pengelly, Deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland Executive; Brigadier-General Stephan Ryan, representing the Defence Forces; Commander Tom Wardly, SNONI Naval Regional Command Scotland & NI; and Assistant Commissioner Catharian Gunne representing An Garda Síochána;
- Ambassadors and representatives of: The British Embassy; Australian Embassy. Embassy of Canada; Embassy of the United States of America; Embassy of France; Embassy of Belgium; The Royal Danish Embassy; Embassy of The Czech Republic; Embassy of Ukraine; Embassy of Austria; Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus; Embassy of the Republic of Poland; Embassy of Malta; Embassy of Italy; Embassy of Greece, Embassy of Georgia; Embassy of India; Embassy of Pakistan; Embassy of The Republic of Keyna; Embassy of The Republic of Lithuania; and Embassy of The Republic of Türkiye;
- The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Damian Boylan; Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge, and Craigavon, Alderman Lavelle McIllwrath; and Councillor Councillor Damien Geoghegan, Mayor of Waterford Councillor;
- H.M.’s Lord Lieutenant for The County of Antrim, David McCorkell KStJ;
Colonel (Retd) Adrian Donaldson MBE CStJ DL, representing H.M,’s Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast, H.M’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the County of Tyrone, Graham Dodds MBE BCAc DL - Mr David Johnstone Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland;
- Mr Seán Guerin SC, Chair of the Bar of Ireland; Judge John A Campbell representing the President of the Law Society of Ireland;
- District President The Royal British Legion, Republic of Ireland Lt Col (Retd) Ken Martin; Chairperson, Irish National War Memorial Trust, Brig Gen Paul Pakenham (Retd); Director, The Somme Association (Ulster Tower), Ms Carol Walker MBE;
- Wreaths were also laid by Service Charities in Ireland; Branches of The Royal British Legion; UK Armed Service Veterans Associations; Defence Forces Veteran Associations; Leopardstown Park Veterans Support Group; Combined Irish Regiments Association; Historical Associations of the Disbanded Irish Regiments; Civil Associations; and Schools.
Throughout the Ceremony, music was provided by the Band of the 2 Brigade under the direction of Captain William Chester, the Band of the 2 Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment under the direction of WO 1 (Bandmaster) Sergeant Philip Ferguson, and Company Sergeant Kevin Duncan, Piper from the Defence Forces School of Music.
Vocalists from The Brook Singers led by Duncan Brickenden, accompanied by the combined military bands, led in the signing of “Be Though My Vision”, “The Marching Song of the Irish Brigade” and “Eternal Father Strong to Serve”.
The Exhortation and The Dedication were delivered by Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd) Ken Martin, District President Republic of Ireland, The Royal British Legion.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them.
We will remember them
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today”
(Kohima)
The Great Cross and Replica Ginchy Cros. Source: Irish National War Memorial Trust
The Last Post and was sounded by an instrumentalist from the Band of 2 Brigade. Following The Silence, The Rouse was sounded by an instrumentalist from the Band of the 2 Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment.
The ceremony concluded with the playing of The National Anthem.
Group Photograph at The Great Cross. Source: Patrick Hugh Lynch
Following the ceremony, refreshments were served by the Defence Forces in the vicinity of the Temple.
Link to MHIT Flickr Platform for selection of photographs of the Ceremony courtesy of Patrick Hugh Lynch and The Irish National War Memorial Trust: https://flickr.com/photos/mhit/albums/72177720334728224/with/55396724317
Link to RTÉ Report by Laura Fletcher: https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0711/1582888-world-war-ceremony-of-remembrance/
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