Northern Ireland

Republicans gather in Belfast to commemorate the Easter Rising

The Easter Rising commemoration in Ballymurphy. Picture by Mal McCann
The Easter Rising commemoration in Ballymurphy. Picture by Mal McCann The Easter Rising commemoration in Ballymurphy. Picture by Mal McCann

REPUBLICANS gathered in west and north Belfast yesterday for their traditional Easter Tuesday commemorations.

The events in Ballymurphy and Ardoyne marked the 106th anniversary of the Easter Rising.

The Easter commemorations are the first since 2019, due to restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus.

The Ardoyne commemoration left the Flax Centre car-park in the early afternoon and made its way to the area's garden of remembrance, where wreaths were laid.

Sinn Féin election candidate Gerry Kelly addressed the crowd.

In Ballymurphy, those gathered heard from Aisling Reilly, one of Sinn Féin's West Belfast candidates.