COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
QUESTION NO. 13
QUESTION: Councillor D. Richardson
"To ask the Chief Executive to please state why we don't have any flags or signs along the N81 for the celebration of 2016, other Councils have decorated parts of their County. It is not too late to do this?"
REPLY:
One of the most successful and inclusive initiatives of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme was the delivery of a National Flag and a Copy of the 1916 Proclamation to every Primary and Post Primary School in South Dublin County. This initiative was co-ordinated by South Dublin County Council in partnership with the Irish Defences Forces and the Ireland 2016 Office. This culminated with the hugely successful Proclamation Day on 15th March 2016, which was set aside by the Department of Education as a special day to focus on the 1916 Proclamation and the raising of our National Flag. This initiative aimed at all students from primary to third level provided information on the history and protocols surrounding the National Flag.
As part of South Dublin County Council's Centenary Programme a special flag raising ceremony took place at the Civic Offices in Clondalkin on the 15th March and on the 11th April 2016 a ceremony with the Irish Defence Forces will take place at County Hall prior to the April Council Meeting to mark the Centenary of the 1916 Rising.
The Council is working with local communities and are providing Irish Flags and Copies of the Proclamation on loan to local groups who have organised their own Flag Raising Ceremonies. Commemorations Funding was also made available to groups for this purpose.
The Irish Flag will be flown at County Hall, Tallaght and Civic Offices, Clondalkin over the Easter Period.