The time-honoured military ceremonial of the trooping of the colour took place yesterday in delightful weather in the Upper Castle Yard. The function has undergone many changes in recent years, and yesterday's ceremony was unique in this respect, that the outgoing guard, furnished by the Bedford Regiment, took no part whatever in the proceedings of the day. It is needless to say that for some years the ceremonial was altogether abandoned; but since its revival, some six years ago, it has formed one of the most interesting of the official functions connected with the observance of the National Festival. This was the first occasion upon which a kilted regiment took the premier part in the proceedings, the entire ceremonial being carried out by the 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and in the absence of an Irish regiment it was satisfactory to know that the festival was honoured, so far as the Dublin garrison was concerned, by representatives of the Celtic fringe.
The Irish Times, March 18th, 1899.