Flag ceremony to mark start of 1916 Rising events

The flag-raising ceremony will be held in the Upper Yard in Dublin Castle.

The ceremony will include the reading by the Defence Forces of a roll of honour of those volunteers who lost their lives during the 1916 Rising.

Cor na nOg performed Danny Boy, followed by an opening prayer.

During the ceremony three flags which were flown on O'Connell Street during the Rising will be raised: the Irish Citizens Army Flag which was flown from the Imperial Hotel on O'Connell Street; the Irish Republican Flag and the National Flag which were both flown from the GPO.

Throughout 2016, more than 40 State ceremonial events will be held as part of the Ireland 2016 centenary programme, as well a growing list of more than 4,000 events nationwide, including 2,000 community-led initiatives and more than 1,000 worldwide events being held mostly at Irish embassies. Among those attending are the President, the Taoiseach, Minister Heather Humphreys and the Lord Mayor of Dublin.