Six thousand secondary school students, along with their teachers, attended a special event in Croke Park to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising last Monday March 7th. Each school was presented with a Tricolour and a copy of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
Mr G. Cullen, school Principal and Mr T. Quinlan, accompanied by three students Aaran Fleming, Danny de Vaal and Ciarán Kelly attended this auspicious event. Fifth Year student, Danny de Vaal accepted the flag and proclamation pack from a senior Irish Army officer on behalf of the school.
Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins reviewed a special Guard of Honour and gave an inspirational speech about national pride and the significance of the Tricolour to the crowd of students gathered in the Cusack Stand. Mr Ryan Tubridy was the M.C. for the occasion that witnessed performances from the musicians Seo Linn, who sang a wonderful rendition of “Óró Sé do Bheatha ‘bhaile,” the words of which were composed by Pádraig Pearse. An actor, playing the part of the famous originator of the tricolour, namely Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher (1823 – 1867), leader of the Irish Brigade in the Union Army of the United States gave a dramatic account of the significance of the colours of the Irish National flag, Bratach na hÉireann.
The event concluded with a rousing rendition of the National anthem by the Army Number One Band conducted by Captain Fergal Carroll.
