The city remembers

THOUSANDS of Northside students did their schools and country proud as they took part in the first ever Proclamation Day ahead of this weekend’s Easter Rising commemorations.

The event is one of the major highlights of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and normal school schedules were replaced with special ceremonies to mark the significance of the 1916 Proclamation.

On the day the Irish flag was raised in each school before the Proclamation was read by a student, a past pupil or a special guest. This was followed by a sharing of each school’s Proclamation for a New Generation, which set out the vision and ideals of the 2016 students.

Minister Paschal Donohoe was present at Gardiner Street Primary School to see children read their Proclamation.

Speaking after, the Minister referred to an important line from the children’s proclamation when he addressed the 349 children, parents, staff and school board members.

“Everybody should have a place to call home,” he said.

The Minister then raised the Irish Flag to huge applause and was invited to watch a wonderful Drama based on 1916 called ‘Lily’s Story’. 

The day finished after the school’s choir and orchestra performed ‘The Foggy Dew’ and a medley of Irish tunes and a group of dancers danced the ‘Fairy Reel’.

Dunboyne College marked the day with a special commemoration attended by the staff, students and politicians as well as business and community representatives.

The event included music from students of Dunboyne College and St Peter’s College as well as speeches from Cllr Nick Killian who is chair of the school board and college principal Denis Leonard.

The highlight was an imformative talk on local history of 1916 by Noel French and the reading of the 1916 proclamation was followed by the raising of the flag by Irish volunteer Tolan Collier. 

The opening of the new college library took place just after the event and a reception was then held in the college for all guests. 

Master of ceremonies for the day was local history lecturer in the college Siobhann Leavy assisted by ex-serviceman Bob Robinson,

The beautiful weather added to what was a wonderful occasion and one that was replicated across the city on a very special Proclamation Day for schools to remember.