HAI Operations Manager, Niamh Clowry, attended the recent annual State Ceremony at Arbour Hill to commemorate all those who died during the 1916 Rising. The ceremony was attended by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris. A guard of honour was formed by the 27th Infantry Battalion at Aiken Barracks in Dundalk. Flag officers from the Army, Air Corps and Naval service were in attendance along with the Army band.

The HAI were invited to read a humanist reflection at the event, after which President Michael D Higgins laid a wreath at the grave of the executed 1916 leaders, commemorating all those who died.

The commemoration at Arbour Hill is the longest-running State ceremony to commemorate the Rising. This year marks the 101st holding of the ceremony, which began in 1923, shortly after the end of the Civil War.

The ceremony was attended by over 400 people, including members of the Oireachtas; the Council of State; the Judiciary; religious leaders from all denominations; and relatives of the leaders and others who fought in 1916.