President Eamon de Valera laid a wreath in the execution yard at Kilmainham Gaol before opening a museum in the former prison.
A large crowd gathered outside Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin where 14 men were executed following the Rising in 1916. They had come to see President de Valera return to the jail where he had been condemned to death.
In the execution yard of the prison relatives of the executed men, had been given the place of honour. They were joined by the Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, members of the jail restoration committee and the volunteer workers who had carried out the labour.
A special guard under Lieutenant George Kirwan presented arms. While the last post was played the national flag was lowered to half mast by Captain Patrick Coakley.
President de Valera laid a wreath before the Tricolour was hoisted fully again. Trumpeters sounded The Reveille and the national anthem was played completing the ceremony.
Inside the jail President de Valera addressed the crowd and officially opened the museum. Back outside well wishers surround President de Valera before he is driven away.
| Title: | President Lays Wreath at Kilmainham Gaol |
| Clip Duration: | 00:05:04 |
| Material Type: | Video |
| Clip Title: | President Lays Wreath at Kilmainham Jail |
| Information: | Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) was broadcasting in black and white in 1966. This meant any recordings that were to be kept of commemoration events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising would only exist in black and white. Television producer Michael Johnston came up with the idea of using colour film cameras to document events of Easter Week 1966 in Dublin and around the country. These films were not intended for broadcast but purely as a record of the events of Easter Week 1966. The footage shown here is edited from film shot at Kilmainham Jail, Dublin on the 10th April 1966. |
| Local Keywords: | 1916, 1966, 1960s, Kilmainham, Commemorations, Eamon de Valera, Sean Lemass, Museums, Soldiers, Irish Army |
| Coverage: | Dublin, Ireland |
| Genre: | Factual |
| Topic: | Wars and Conflict |
| Provider: | RTÉ |
| Publisher: | RTÉ |
| Country of Production: | Ireland |
| Original Identifier: | DF2948 |
| IPR Restrictions: | Rights Reserved - Free Access |
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| Item Type: | part/extract |
| Colour: | Colour |
| Sound: | Silent |
| Aspect Ratio: | 4:3 |
