Hundreds of thousands of people have lined the streets of Dublin where a parade is marking the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
The military parade is the largest ever staged in the Republic of Ireland, and featured a fly-past over the city centre by the Irish Air Corps.
The 1916 rebellion was an attempt to overthrow British rule in Ireland.
Sunday's ceremony is the culmination of a series of centenary commemorations organised by the Irish government.
Irish President Michael D Higgins led the main ceremony in O'Connell Street as the Irish tricolour was lowered at the General Post Office (GPO) - once the rebels' headquarters.
The 1916 Proclamation was then read out by an officer from the Irish defence forces, in a re-enactment of the declaration of independence the rebels made outside the GPO on 24 April 1916.
The president laid a laurel wreath in front of the building, before a minute's silence, in tribute to the dead, was observed.
The Last Post was played, followed by the Irish national anthem Amhrán na bhFiann (The Soldier's Song) and the tricolour was raised back up to full mast above the GPO.
The military fly past was greeted with cheers and applause from the crowds who thronged the streets.
Earlier, the president also laid a wreath at Kilmainham Gaol, where 14 of the 16leaders of the Easter Rising were executed by British troops.
The manner of their deaths is seen by many historians as instrumental in changing public opinion in Ireland in 1916 - which was initially hostile to the rebellion - into sympathy and support for the republican push for independence.
Acting Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny also played a leading role in Sunday's commemorations and said it was "important that we bear witness this centenary year to all those who gave their lives during Easter 1916".
A number of former Irish presidents and prime ministers were special guests at the ceremony, alongside Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
The Easter Rising was quelled within six days by British troops, but despite its failure it is seen as a significant stepping stone to the eventual creation of the Republic of Ireland and the partition of Ireland.
Post a Comment