This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/27/easter-rising-centenary-to-be-marked-in-dublin-gpo-amid-heavy-security
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Easter Rising commemoration draws thousands in Dublin | Easter Rising commemoration draws thousands in Dublin |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people are attending the official Irish government’s commemoration in Dublin of the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule. | Thousands of people are attending the official Irish government’s commemoration in Dublin of the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule. |
| More than 3,500 members of Ireland’s defence forces as well as a flypast by the republic’s air force will parade by the exact spot where a century ago the rebellion began – Dublin’s General Post Office. | More than 3,500 members of Ireland’s defence forces as well as a flypast by the republic’s air force will parade by the exact spot where a century ago the rebellion began – Dublin’s General Post Office. |
| In one of the first ceremonies, the Irish president, Michael Higgins, lay a wreath at the spot where 15 rebels were executed for their part in the rebellion. | In one of the first ceremonies, the Irish president, Michael Higgins, lay a wreath at the spot where 15 rebels were executed for their part in the rebellion. |
| In a poignant ceremony at the Stonebreakers’ Yard in Dublin’s Kilmainham gaol, the president was flanked by a military guard of honour drawn from the defence forces cadet school. | In a poignant ceremony at the Stonebreakers’ Yard in Dublin’s Kilmainham gaol, the president was flanked by a military guard of honour drawn from the defence forces cadet school. |
| After prayers and a minute’s silence, a lone piper from the Army No 1 Band played the lament Wrap the Green Flag Around Me Boys. The Irish tricolour, which flew at half mast throughout, was then raised. | After prayers and a minute’s silence, a lone piper from the Army No 1 Band played the lament Wrap the Green Flag Around Me Boys. The Irish tricolour, which flew at half mast throughout, was then raised. |
| Higgins will take the salute in O’Connell Street amid heavy security, with streets leading on to Ireland’s most famous thoroughfare blocked off by barriers manned by the Garda Síochána. | Higgins will take the salute in O’Connell Street amid heavy security, with streets leading on to Ireland’s most famous thoroughfare blocked off by barriers manned by the Garda Síochána. |
| All those with access to the inner ring close to the GPO will have to go through airport security style scanners before the march past. | All those with access to the inner ring close to the GPO will have to go through airport security style scanners before the march past. |
| The rising is one of the seminal events in modern Irish history and took place in the middle of the first world war. It was the first major armed revolt within the British empire by one of its colonies. | The rising is one of the seminal events in modern Irish history and took place in the middle of the first world war. It was the first major armed revolt within the British empire by one of its colonies. |
| More than 450 people lost their lives in almost a week of fighting between republican rebels led by the poet and teacher Patrick Pearse and British armed forces in the city. | More than 450 people lost their lives in almost a week of fighting between republican rebels led by the poet and teacher Patrick Pearse and British armed forces in the city. |
| The rebellion was a military failure but the execution of Pearse alongside the other leaders of the rising, coupled later with the attempt to introduce military conscription into Ireland, turned the population in what is now the Irish Republic against the British. | The rebellion was a military failure but the execution of Pearse alongside the other leaders of the rising, coupled later with the attempt to introduce military conscription into Ireland, turned the population in what is now the Irish Republic against the British. |
| But the objectives of the rebels, who wanted a 32-county Irish Republic, were arguably never realised. By 1921 Ireland was partitioned into two states – the Free State in 26 counties and unionist dominated Northern Ireland. The Free State did not become a republic, fully independent from Britain, until 1948. | But the objectives of the rebels, who wanted a 32-county Irish Republic, were arguably never realised. By 1921 Ireland was partitioned into two states – the Free State in 26 counties and unionist dominated Northern Ireland. The Free State did not become a republic, fully independent from Britain, until 1948. |
| Unionists in the north, however, were and remain hostile to the goals of the rebels’ republican ideology. All the major unionist parties are boycotting Sunday’s commemoration in Dublin. | Unionists in the north, however, were and remain hostile to the goals of the rebels’ republican ideology. All the major unionist parties are boycotting Sunday’s commemoration in Dublin. |
| At the GPO itself an officer from the Irish defence forces will read out the same proclamation that Pearse read at the very start of the insurrection. | |
| Applause for veterans arriving. Double deckers a nice touch #easter1916 https://t.co/V8UR4zz50B | Applause for veterans arriving. Double deckers a nice touch #easter1916 https://t.co/V8UR4zz50B |
| Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, has praised the way the Irish government has used the centenary to promote reconciliation on the island. | Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, has praised the way the Irish government has used the centenary to promote reconciliation on the island. |
| Villiers said she recognised the significance of this weekend for Irish people around the world. | Villiers said she recognised the significance of this weekend for Irish people around the world. |
| She added that whatever one’s perspective, she welcomed and appreciated the efforts of the Irish government to ensure the centenary was “marked in ways that are inclusive and designed to promote reconciliation”. | She added that whatever one’s perspective, she welcomed and appreciated the efforts of the Irish government to ensure the centenary was “marked in ways that are inclusive and designed to promote reconciliation”. |
| Sinn Féin was meanwhile organising the largest demonstration in Northern Ireland with a parade through West Belfast to the republican plot at Milltown cemetery. | Sinn Féin was meanwhile organising the largest demonstration in Northern Ireland with a parade through West Belfast to the republican plot at Milltown cemetery. |
| Divisions within Northern Ireland about the 1916 rebellion and its legacy were evident on Sunday morning on the Falls Road in Belfast, the main route of the Sinn Féin commemoration. | Divisions within Northern Ireland about the 1916 rebellion and its legacy were evident on Sunday morning on the Falls Road in Belfast, the main route of the Sinn Féin commemoration. |
| A new mural was painted to recall the events of a century ago and included a portrait of the unionist leader and founder of the original Ulster Volunteer Force, Edward Carson. | A new mural was painted to recall the events of a century ago and included a portrait of the unionist leader and founder of the original Ulster Volunteer Force, Edward Carson. |
| The inclusion of a unionist icon in the heart of republican West Belfast was meant to send a signal that republicans understood the unionist tradition on the island. | The inclusion of a unionist icon in the heart of republican West Belfast was meant to send a signal that republicans understood the unionist tradition on the island. |
| However, overnight the Carson portrait was bombarded with paint bombs and later set alight. Hardline dissident republicans were bitterly critical of the decision to paint Carson’s image in their area. | However, overnight the Carson portrait was bombarded with paint bombs and later set alight. Hardline dissident republicans were bitterly critical of the decision to paint Carson’s image in their area. |