Gaeilge
Staff, students and members of Donegal ETB were joined today, 15th March 2016, by members of the Irish Army to raise the National Flag in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
The ceremony was opened by a trio of Musicians, Martin McGinley on fiddle, Ted Ponsonby on guitar and Noel Lenaghan on Flute playing a selection of traditional Irish Music as spectators made their way to the Flag Raising.
Anne McHugh, Chief Executive welcomed staff, students and special guests on what was a poignant day in Irish history. The Chief Executive introduced invited guests from the Irish Army to perform the ceremony, namely, Sergeant Major John O’Connor and Sergeant Jerome Hannigan. Sgt Major O’Connor proceeded to read aloud the Irish Proclamation from 1916:
This was followed by the raising of the National Flag by Sergeant Major O’Connor accompanied by a rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann by Martin McGinley, Ted Ponsonby and Noel Lenaghan on vocals. The ceremony was concluded by Anne McHugh, CE and followed by light refreshments.
Donegal ETB would like to convey thanks to all who attended on this historical occasion, particularly the members of the Irish Army, members of Donegal ETB. Many thanks to Ciaran Cunningham for the photography which captured the atmosphere of the day, also to those who contributed to the refreshments afterwards.
(excerpt below from http://www.ireland.ie/history)
The men and women of the 1916 Rising envisaged a new Ireland as a national democracy; an Ireland which, in the words of the Proclamation, “guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and [which] declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally.” They believed that this could only be achieved through complete independence.
Shamhlaigh fir agus mná Éirí Amach 1916 Éire nua a bheadh ina daonlathas náisiúnta; Éire, i bhfocail an Fhorógra, a “ráthaíonn … saoirse creidimh agus saoirse shibhialta, comhchearta agus comhdheiseanna, dá saoránaigh uile, agus [a dhearbhaíonn] gurb é a rún séan agus sonas a lorg don náisiún uile agus do gach roinn di, a comhchúram do chlainn uile an náisiúin.” Chreid siad gur le neamhspleáchas amháin a d’fhéadfaí sin a bhaint amach.