11.11.2015
Defence Forces Visit St Catherine’s School for Flag Presentation
Pupils of St Catherine’s National School, Donore Avenue, had a visit from members of the Irish Defence Forces this morning (Wednesday November 11). The school was presented with their own National Flag and copy of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. The presentation was part of the Flags for Schools initiative to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising and members of the Defence Forces will be delivering the National Flag to every primary school in the country.
The ceremony opened with a rendition of Ireland’s Call and concluded with Amhrán na bhFiann. Lieutenant Paul McDermott and Sergeant John Counihan of the Irish Air Corps presented the school with their National Flag and copy of the Proclamation.
Sergeant Counihan explained about the birth of the nation and said that the flag was a symbol of peace and unity. The Proclamation is a story of hope, equality and vision which still carried the hopes of the nation, he said. He asked the pupils to write their own Proclamation which they should put on the wall of the school alongside the 1916 Proclamation.
Five sixth class pupils read the Proclamation with Lieutenant McDermott and school principal, April Cronin.
The pupils also heard from John Stephenson who is working on a heritage project on 1916 and whose grandfather fought in 1916. He spoke about the background to the Rising.
This morning’s ceremony took place on Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) and Ms Cronin, told pupils that on November 11 people around the world were remembering not only the millions of young men who died in the First World War but those who died in all wars. She said that sadly wars continued across the world and while they remembered those who had died people should also think about what can be done to end war and bring peace.
Canon Mark Gardner said prayers for peace and junior and senior infants and first class pupils said a poem for peace.
Photo captions:
Top – The National Flag is presented.
Bottom – Sixth Class recite the Proclamation.