‘Flags for Schools’ arrived in Mullingar last week with many national schools visited by members of the Custume Barracks, Athlone to mark the occasion. The campaign was recently launched as part of 1916 commemorations with all 3,300 national schools nationwide due to receive a copy of the flag and the Proclamation by March 2016. Members of the Army, the Navy and the Air Corps are involved in the distribution effort.
Lieutenant Sarah Donnelly and Gunner Peter Scally from Athlone were in charge of flag presentation duties in the Mullingar area with ceremonies taking place at a number of schools. A ceremony at each location saw the Irish soldiers raise the flag and read the Proclamation to the pupils and teachers. They also gave background information on the symbolism of the Tricolour and the etiquette attached to its display and storage.
At a ceremony which took place on 21 September, Principal of Presentation Senior School, Declan Fry explained to his pupils why the event was so important. “Next year will be 100 years on from 1916. Ireland did not become a republic in 1916 but the seeds of Ireland becoming the country that it is today started with a group of seven. On Easter Monday in 1916, a man called Padraig Pearse stood up and read a proclamation of what they believed they would Ireland to be like. The flag that we are getting today is a symbol of what we would like Ireland to be like. Just as you are a credit to your school and your teachers, you are also a credit to your country.”
Principal of St. Kenny’s National School, Kilpatrick, Arthur Fallon also welcomed the new flag and Proclamation to the school last week. “Peter and Sarah are here today to present us with the flag today as part of the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising. Next Easter there’s going to be lots of celebrations throu-ghout Ireland and as part of the preparations for that, Peter and Sarah will tell us about the flag and the 1916 Rising.”
As part of the 2016 centenary celebrations, schools will be drafting a “new Proclamation for 2016,” reflecting the values, ideals and aspirations of pupils now. Proclamation Day will take place on 15 March, 2016, when the schools will display the results of their Proclamation, the ‘1916 Ancestry’ projects, along with other arts and drama initiatives.
