Galway Bay fm newsroom – A state ceremony planned for Athenry as part of the national 1916 commemoration can’t be facilitated at the Commemorative Garden at Swangate due to health and safety concerns.
Senator Lorraine Higgins raised the matter in the Seanad where she asked the Heritage Minister to agree to host a wreath laying ceremony at the ‘Back Lawn’.
It’s where Liam Mellows and his volunteers congregated at the beginning of the Rising before he was arrested by the RIC and deported to the U.K.
Athenry has been selected as one of four locations nationwide to host State commemoration events next year.
The event will take place on March 24th 2016 at 1.15pm, and will be televised live.
Minister of State, Tom Hayes replied on behalf of the Heritage Minister and said the formal wreath laying can’t take place at the Back Lawn due to health and safety.
However he added that another event may take place at that location due to its significance
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