|
|
The remains of Kevin Barry being removed from Mountjoy Prison this morning. Photograph: David Roe
|
Thousands of people lined Dublin's streets for the State funerals of 10 IRA volunteers who were executed by British forces for their part in the War of Independence.
The ten, who were executed by the British Army between 1920 and 1921 left Mountjoy prison at 12.45 p.m. for the last time.
An estimated 100 relatives of the ten attended a brief service in the grounds of Mountjoy prison this morning, after which they formed a funeral cortege through the streets of Dublin to a Solem Requiem Mass in the Pro-Cathedral.
Prison officers formed a guard of honour as the cortege left the prison on its journey to the Pro-Cathedral on Marlborough Street, led by an Army motorcycle escort.
Thousands of people lined the streets to witness the cortege, with some waiting for up to three hours outside the GPO where the remains were honoured by a Cadet guard of honour and a lone piper.
The remains of nine of the men, tried and sentenced to death by military court martial were reintered this afternoon in Glasnevin in a ceremony attended by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.
The remains of the tenth man, Mr Patrick Maher, will be brought to Ballylanders, Co Limerick, for reburial on October 20th in accordance with his family's wishes.
President McAleese, every member of the Oireachtas and almost 600 relatives of the men were among 1,000 people invited to the Mass at the Pro-Cathedral by the Taoiseach.
|
|
The funeral cortege passes the GPO this afternoon
|
Opposition parties also attended the Mass, despite their accusations that Fianna Fáil "hijacked" the funerals by holding them on the same weekend as the party's ard-fheis. The party has rejected these criticisms and insisted that the timing of the event was coincidental.
Cardinal Cahal Daly was the chief concelebrant at the Mass.
The cortege set off for Glasnevin cemetery, joined by Mrs McAleese, Mr Ahern, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, other members of the Cabinet and the Council of State.
It stopped briefly at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square where a minute's silence was observed. The route to the cemetery is via North Frederick Street, Dorset Street, Whitworth Road, Prospect Road and Finglas Road.
No traffic will be allowed on the Finglas Road during the interment. Members of the public who wish to attend the ceremony in Glasnevin Cemetery are advised to enter via Bell or Violet Hill Gates.