Northern Ireland

Republicans to parade across Ireland this weekend

O'Connell Street in Dublin during the Easter Rising 101 years ago
O'Connell Street in Dublin during the Easter Rising 101 years ago

REPUBLICANS across Ireland will turn out this weekend to mark the 101st anniversary of the Easter Rising.

Thousands of people are expected to attend dozens of events organised across the north in the coming days.

Republican Sinn Féin will host a commemoration in Lurgan, Co Armagh, later today.

Those involved with attend the Garden of Remembrance in the Kilwilkie estate before a wreath-laying ceremony at the republican plot at nearby St Colman’s Cemetery.

In previous years the PSNI have had a strong presence at the event.

Republican Network for Unity will also hold its annual commemoration in Ardoyne in north Belfast today.

Sinn Féin’s main Easter parade will take place in west Belfast tomorrow.

The march will go from Beechmount Avenue to Milltown cemetery where Donegal TD Pearse Doherty will deliver an address.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams will be speaking in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, while the party's northern leader Michelle O'Neill will be the main speaker at the Dublin commemoration at Glasnevin Cemetery.

Earlier in the day the ‘D-Company’ Falls Cultural Society will march from Barrack Street in the Lower Falls to the local garden of remembrance.

The Irish Republican Socialist Party will also travel along the Falls Road to Milltown Cemetery where Michael McLaughlin is expected to speak.

Hours later the Workers Party will hold its annual Belfast commemoration starting at Beechmount Avenue.

Outside Belfast the largest parades are expected to take place on Easter Monday.

Recently formed anti-agreement party Saoradh will hold its commemoration in Derry on Monday, with Co Armagh republican Paul Duffy delivering a speech in the city cemetery.

Socialist republican party Eirigi will also hold its annual parade in Belfast, with national vice-chair Breandan Mac Cionnaith giving an address at Milltown.

The Tyrone National Graves Association will hold its annual parade in Carrickmore, and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement will parade in Dublin.

On Easter Tuesday the Ancient Order of Hibernians will lay a wreath in the garden of remembrance in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, in memory of Edward Walsh, who was a member of the Hibernian Rifles and who was killed during the Easter Rising.