1916 Easter commemorations 2005

Easter in Carrickmore

• Cavan

Over 500 people attended the annual Cavan Easter commemoration, held in Killnavart, Ballyconnell, on Easter Sunday. A colour party and the Murphy Leonard flute band led the crowd to the graves of Volunteers James Crossan and Michael Baxter. There, a commemorative seat was unveiled for all the republican dead from the Templeport parish, and to commemorate the centenary of Sinn Féin.

After readings of the Proclamation, the Roll of Honour and the Easter message, wreaths were laid on the Volunteers' graves.

• Tyrone

Carrickmore was awash with colour on Easter Sunday, 27 March, when Tyrone republicans converged on the town to remember Ireland's patriot dead. Bunting and flags adorned the parade route and all the approach roads.

Throughout the Easter weekend there were 19 graveside commemorations in County Tyrone, culminating in the main County Commemoration in Carrickmore. Many homes in Carrickmore flew the National Flag.

A 15-person strong Republican Colour Party led the parade, followed by seven young people, each carrying a painting of the signatories of the Easter Proclamation of 1916 and relatives of dead republicans, carrying pictures of their loved ones. There were a number of marching bands, including the Martin Hurson Memorial Flute Band Gortin/Greencastle; the Kevin Lynch Flute Band, Dungiven; and Clooney Flute Band from Aghoghill, County Antrim. Also present was the recently formed Tyrone Pikemen Association.

After the traditional parade through Carrickmore, the crowd of several thousand attended the proceedings at the Tyrone Garden of Remembrance, where Brian Cawley of the Tyrone National Graves Association chaired proceedings.

Pat Doherty, MP for the area, was the main speaker. In his speech he told the crowd: "It is the republican and the nationalist electorate who can in the coming weeks rescue the agreement and the political process.

"Only a strong republican vote for Sinn Féin can at this time stop the criminalisation agenda and force the British back on to the ground of the Peace Process."

Reflecting on the week of commemorative events, Tyrone National Graves Chair Brian Cawley said that he had noticed that there were a large and growing number of people at the various commemorations throughout Tyrone, which would suggest a growth in the republican message.

• Waterford

This year's West Waterford Easter Commemoration, held in Kilrossanty, gave local Ógra activists a chance to reiterate the message that our cause and struggle are not criminal. Young people from Dungarvan, Lismore and An Rinn were joined by comrades from Waterford City.

The commemoration attracted a large crowd and the usual selection of uniformed Gardaí and Special Branch were in attendance.

The main speaker was Mary Lou MacDonald.