A nationwide initiative which was launched today by the Taoiseach will see every primary school in the country receiving a national flag to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Today, Taoiseach Enda Kenny along with Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys and Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan launched the ‘Flags for Schools’ initiative with the first ceremony being held in St. Patrick’s N.S. Rehins, Co Mayo.

According to MerrionStreet.ie, this will be the first ‘in a series of ceremonies which will take place in more than 3,300 national schools across the country, including special schools, and is a major element of the State’s programme to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising.’

Speaking at today’s event in Mayo, the Minister for Arts commented:

“Through the delivery of the National Flag to every primary school in the country, children will gain a greater understanding of the work of the Defence Forces and the importance of our National Flag, which symbolises the aspiration for peace between the different traditions on this island. I hope the thousands of ceremonies which take place across the country in the coming months will leave our schoolchildren with a positive and lasting memory from the commemorations.”

As part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, the Defence Forces, including the army, navy and air corps, will present the National Flag and a copy of the Proclamation of Independence to every primary school in the country before March 2016. According to the program, a ceremony will take place at each location and will see members of the Defences Forces raise the flag and read the proclamation to pupils and teachers.

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