Those who lost their lives in the 1916 Easter Rising have been remembered in a military commemoration outside the GPO in Dublin.

President Michael D Higgins led the ceremony with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter before Captain Eoin Rochford of the Irish Defence Forces read the 1916 Proclamation on the steps of the GPO this afternoon.

Padraig Pearse read those words for the first time from the exact same spot 97 years ago.

And today he was remembered along with all the others who gave up their lives from Irish freedom.

Earlier, the President Michael D Higgins attended a commemoration at Arbour Hill where the leaders of the Rising are buried.

And during the commemoration outside the scene of the Irish rebellion, the Taoiseach invited him to lay a wreath.

A minute’s silence was then observed before the Irish National Anthem was played and the tricolour, which was lowered for the commemoration was restored to full mast.

And the nation spared a thought for all those who died for Irish freedom as four Air Corps jets ripped through the skies above O’Connell Street.