Proclamation Day

Today was chosen as Proclamation Day across the country when every school was invited to raise the Tricolour and read the 1916 Proclamation. This is to commemorate the centenary of the Easter Rising when the GPO in Dublin was stormed by the Irish Volunteers and the Proclamation of the Irish Republic was read by Patrick Pearse - to put it very simply!

The Tricolour was delivered to school six months ago by member of the Defence Forces and today, along with the rest of the country, St James had a special ceremony. The local Mens' Shed had kindly funded the flagpole and instructed the teachers' how to hoist the flag. The Canon blessed the flag which went up smoothly in a gentle wind. Then it was inside where the original Proclamation was read followed by a reading by one of the children of the school Proclamation. I don't know it you can enlarge the new Proclamation but the children seem to have everything covered with special concerns for equality, homelessness and the environment. Rather fittingly the readings were by grandmother and granddaughter. The ceremony was rounded off by some Irish dancing and some songs in Irish and the children were given their own copies of the Proclamation and special medals. Very nicely done, and I got a special mention for my mad artwork which was also on display!