Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in Dublin city centre this weekend to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1916 rising.
The weekend’s events begin on Easter Saturday with a ceremony at the Garden of Remembrance, it will be followed that evening by an event at the RDS for relatives of those who took part in the Rising.
On Easter Sunday the longest parade in the history of the State proceeds through the city centre. The parade will take place along a 4.5 km route (twice as long as the St Patrick's Day march and expected to take over five hours) from St Stephen's Green to Capel Street.
What's happening on Easter Sunday:
- The parade will kick off from Dublin Castle at 11.45pm
- At 12.00pm, our national flag will be raised to full mast at the GPO
- The Proclamation of the Irish Republic will then be read out
- There will be a minute of silence before our national anthem is played
3,700 members of the Defence Forces as well as Gardaí, emergency services and bands will take part in the lengthy parade that starts at 10am and will not finish until 3pm.
60,000 foreign tourists will fill hotels across the city, with the events estimated to boost the economy by up to €75million.
Speaking to Pat Kenny on Newstalk, Pat O’Connor of the Defence Forces described it as “one of the biggest ceremonial events the Defence Forces have ever been involved in.”
In a step up in security from the St Patrick’s Day parade a porous cordon will be in place. Chief Superintendent at Store Street Garda Station Pat Leahy said that the cordon is required because the parade is nearly twice as long. However all emergency services, business traffic and residents will be able to get through.
This video details plans for this weekend.
Cáisc 2016 - Cuimhnímis mar Náisiúnhttps://t.co/YP19YJjoxjhttps://t.co/chqvUud42q— Ireland 2016 (@ireland2016) March 23, 2016
Spectators are being urged to take up places all along the route, which will have 22 viewing screens in place.
People attending the event are being advised to plan their journey, use public transport, come early and dress appropriately.
Anne Graham of the National Transport Authority said they will have enhanced bus and rail services in place to facilitate people travelling to the parade.
Ms Graham said that on a typical Sunday, with no major events taking place, 70,000 people use the Luas to get into Dublin. She said that they would have expected more than 100,000 to use the tram on Easter Sunday.
O'Connell St will be closed from midnight on Friday until 11pm on Easter Monday due to the commemorations. However Sunday is the only day of large scale road closures.
Easter Monday will see wreath laying ceremonies take place in the key 1916 garrisons including Boland's Mills, The Four Courts and Moore Street as well as in Athenry, Cork, Enniscorthy and Ashbourne.
Full programme of events is available here.
