Catherine Connolly lays wreath to commemorate 1916 Easter Rising

The President stepped out as part of an event to honor the 110th anniversary of the Rising, with thousands of people lining Dublin’s O’Connell Street.

 The commemoration was also attended by Micheál Martin, Simon Harris, Helen McEntee, Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam, Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald.

Just before 11am on Easter Sunday, the crowds began to gather for the ceremony, which also saw a parade of Defense Forces personnel and music from a military brass band.

The national flag above the GPO was lowered to half-mast, as a Defense Forces chaplain led a prayer.

After a reading of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic by Captain Eva Houlihan, the flag was raised again while Connolly laid the wreath.

Houlihan became the fourth woman to do the reading in the annual commemorations.

The national anthem was then played before an Air Corps flyover.

While the weather was decent for the majority of the event, a hail shower broke just as a minute’s silence was being observed.

The 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic was read outside the GPO in Dublin.

In a statement, the Taoiseach said: "Today, at the GPO, we gather to mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising and remember those who lost their lives."

Meanwhile, at a later Sinn Féin event for the anniversary, McDonald accused Martin of a "dereliction of duty"’ over what she described as inaction over Irish reunification.

McDonald said that as the 30th anniversary of The Good Friday Agreement approaches, "we have secured the peace. Now is the time to write the next chapter of our national story – the reunification of Ireland."

She added: ‘This is the decade when Irish unity can be won – decided by people north and south in referendums.

"The conversation is underway, but conversation alone is not enough. We need vision, determination, and leadership. We need action."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.