Commemorations on 1st July

90th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of the Somme - Saturday, 1 July 2006 at 12.00 noon in the Irish National War Memorial Park, Islandbridge

To commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, the Government will hold an official Commemoration at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge on July 1st 2006.

The ceremony will be attended by the President, the Lord Mayor and the Taoiseach. Representatives of the following are also expected to attend.

• Government
• Council of State
• Diplomatic Corps
• Dáil and Seanad
• Judiciary
• Social Partners
• National Organisations

Members of the public are also expected to attend.

Following consultations with the Royal British Legion, invitations were also extended to Military History Societies, and organisations established to honour the memory of those who served in disbanded Irish Regiments such as the Dublin Fusiliers, Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment, and the Combined Irish Regiments Association. In addition representatives of veteran organisations such as the Naval Association, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association and the American Legion were invited.

The Commemoration is part of an overall programme that reflects the shared history and shared experience of the people of this island, from all traditions.

The ceremony will include a wreath laying by the President and by Ambassadors from those countries who participated in the battle - the UK, France, Germany, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Australia - will also lay wreaths. Mr Nigel Hamilton, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service will lay a wreath as will a representative of the Royal British Legion.

The ceremony will be open to the public and persons wishing to attend should arrive at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge before 11.00am . Access for the public is via the St John of God Centre Entrance, ie the entrance closest to the South Circular Road/Con Colbert Road roundabout. Limited seating is available for the public, and the disabled. Because of the confines of space, on-street car parking for the general public will be possible on Chapelizod Road and in nearby Clancy Barrack. Very limited car parking will be available in the grounds.

The draft running order for the Ceremony is as follows:

Representatives of Royal British Legion will place four Books of the Dead on the Cenotaph - each representing a Province.

A Defence Force Officer will recite a poem (On Flanders Fields)

A Children's Choir will sing (Oft in the Stilly Night)

A DF Officer will read from a tribute - Marshal Foch.

A DF Piper will play lament.[ Battle of the Somme].

A DF Chaplin will recite a prayer.

A DF Colour Guard carrying 11 flags will enters from the back of the Cross take up position at front of Cross.

A Cadet Guard of Honour will enter from left to take up position between Cenotaph and Cross

The President will lay a wreath

Ambassadors will lay wreaths on either side of the President's wreath followed by a wreath laying by Mr. Nigel Hamilton Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and by a representative of the Royal British Legion.

- Minute's silence.
- Last Post.
- Raising of the National Flag.
- Reveille
- National Anthem.