Northern Ireland

Easter Rising: Commemorations watched by half of Republic's TV audience

Captain Peter Kelleher reading the Proclamation at the GPO, O'Connell Street, on Easter Sunday. Picture by Maxwells, Press Association
Captain Peter Kelleher reading the Proclamation at the GPO, O'Connell Street, on Easter Sunday. Picture by Maxwells, Press Association Captain Peter Kelleher reading the Proclamation at the GPO, O'Connell Street, on Easter Sunday. Picture by Maxwells, Press Association

RTÉ's broadcast of the 1916 Rising state commemorations was watched by around half the Republic's TV audience, it has said.

The live coverage on Sunday centred around Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle and the GPO on O'Connell Street and was seen by more than one million people at some point over the five hours.

RTÉ director-general Noel Curran said more than three million viewers tuned into the state broadcaster during the weekend of commemorations.

Almost 500,000 watched the Centenary concert broadcast on Easter Monday.

Featuring singers including Imelda May, Philomena Begley and Colm Wilkinson and several choirs and dance troupes, the show was billed as a 85-minute celebration of Ireland.

It also included a reading of The Proclamation from Irish people around the world.