101st State Commemoration of the Arbour Hill Ceremony
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From: Department of Defence
- Published on: 7 May 2025
- Last updated on: 8 May 2025
The annual commemoration at Arbour Hill is the longest-running State ceremony to commemorate the Easter Rising. This year marked the 101st State Commemoration of the Arbour Hill Ceremony.
It is now over one hundred years since the commemoration at Arbour Hill began in 1923, shortly after the end of the Civil War, and the first State commemoration event took place in 1924. A commemoration event has been held each year since and over 800 invitations were issued for this year’s ceremony.
The Annual 1916 Commemoration Ceremony takes place at the Church of the Sacred Heart, the church for the Defence Forces, the site of burial of the executed leaders of 1916 on the first Wednesday on or after 3 May of each year.
For 2025, the Annual 1916 Commemoration Ceremony took place at Arbour Hill on Wednesday 7 May 2025. It was hosted by the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, and consisted of a Requiem Mass and a ceremony at the Grave for the 1916 Leaders. The President laid a wreath to commemorate those who died in 1916.
In conjunction with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, President Michael D. Higgins and the Taoiseach Micheál Martin paid a solemn and respectful tribute to those who died for Irish freedom. In addition to the President and the Taoiseach, attendance at the ceremony included members of the government; members of the Oireachtas; the Council of State; the Judiciary; relatives of the leaders and relatives of others who fought in 1916.
Speaking today, the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris said:
“Today marks over 100 years of this State Commemoration of the Arbour Hill Ceremony as we remember those who died for Ireland in 1916 and in particular, those 14 executed leaders of 1916 who are buried here at Arbour Hill.
"It is an honour and privilege for me, as Minister for Defence, to host this traditional commemorative event in the company of relatives of the executed leaders."