Thousands participate in Fingal 1916 Commemorative Day in Swords

Over 8,000 people attended the flagship event of the Fingal 2016 Centenary Programme which took place today in Swords. The Family Commemorative Day featured a state ceremonial event with the raising of the flag and the reading of the Proclamation, followed by a parade and additional family events culminating in a fireworks display. This flagship event, which was organised by Fingal County Council, was held to commemorate the contribution made by the men and women of Fingal to the events of 1916.

The Commemorative Parade, which travelled from the Dublin Road to Town Park, featured a host of bands, including the Black Raven Pipe Band and St Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band, local community groups, GAA clubs, Irish dancers and Rothaíocht na mBan, a group of women who cycled in period costume to commemorate the contribution of women in Fingal to the events of 1916. As part of the parade, there was a state ceremonial event with flag raising and a reading of the Proclamation carried out by the Defence Forces and surrounded by the 38th Rush Scouts Group who formed the guard of honour. The Mobile Monuments, the Council’s Centenary Public Art Commission, also took part in the parade and the public were treated to a special performance devised by artists Rhona Byrne and Yvonne McGuinness with the students of Swords Educate Together, St. Mary’s National School, Garristown, St. Catherine’s National School, Rush, and Castaheany Educate Together, who collaborated on the art works.

Following the parade, there was entertainment on the “Liberty Hall Main Stage” in Town Park, Swords. The Fingal Old IRA Commemorative Society and the Irish Military Living History re-enacted events of the 1916 Rising including the Battle of Ashbourne and the Surrender at New Barn to an intrigued audience. This was followed by a stunning performance by the Enchiriadis Treis Choir where the choir performed an excerpt from their ‘War to Peace’ Show which takes place in the Helix Theatre on 30th April. The Dublin 15 Brass Band and Fergus Russell of the 1916 Song Project also performed to a huge crowd in the Town Park. The evening finished with a spectacular fireworks display in Swords Town Park.

Speaking at the Commemorative Day, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Paul Reid, said: “We are delighted that a large crowd turned out today for the Family Commemorative Day. The men and women from Fingal in 1916, who played a vital role in the Rising, were very young, politically active and socially aware, just as Fingal today is diverse, youthful, vibrant, engaged and socially aware.  The Council has tried to capture this youth and vigour in our county commemorative programme, Fingal Remembers.  As the flagship event in the Fingal 2016 Centenary Programme, we hope that today will be remembered for many years to come.”

For further information on the full Fingal 2016 Centenary Programme visit: www.fingal.ie