The 86th anniversary of an ambush of 17 British soldiers in Co Cork during the War of Independence will be marked today.
IRA riflemen opened fire on two lorries carrying the Auxiliary Division officers at Kilmichael, about 14 miles from Macroom in November 1920. A wreath will be laid today at Castletownkenneigh Cemetery where three IRA casualties are buried.
A parade will be then led to the Kilmichael Monument and Fianna Fail Senator Mary White will deliver an oration.
Members of the local Khaki Green historical group will discharge blank ammunition rounds over the monument. The group has been granted special permission from the Garda to fire the rounds.
Commemoration Committee secretary Sean Kelleher said: "We're honouring the men who struck a blow for our freedom. "It was a very significant event during the War of Independence because it came a week after the events of Bloody Sunday." Relatives of the IRA volunteers and members of other political parties are also expected to attend today's commemoration.