The Annual Easter Sunday Parade by the Fingal Old IRA Commemorative Society made a welcome return on the 17th April after a 2 year absence.

Covid kept the event at bay over the last two years but it was back to honour the local heroes of 1916 in a special ceremony in St Margaret’s.

Society chairperson, Paul O’Brien said: “Easter Sunday in St Margaret’s was a great success for the Fingal OLD IRA and St Margaret’s GAA Club.

“Over 200 people turned up and thank God, the rain only started when the parade and outdoor part of the ceremony ended.”

The event started with a Parade from the graveyard in St Margaret’s to the St Margaret’s GAA Club and the local Garda were on hand to help out by closing the roads and keep an eye on the traffic.

The Master of Ceremonies for the day was James Sutton and his first job was to welcome everyone to the event.

Three plaques were unveiled and wreaths were laid which were made by Society Vice Chairman Lar Daly who also read the Proclamation, on the day.

Mary Madigan, club president of St Margaret’s GAA said a few words and thanked the Fingal Old IRA Commemorative Society and the Black Raven pipe Band and everyone else who turned up on the day.

A special thank you went to Paddy Finnegan who is a member of Fingal Old IRA Commemorative Society and St Margaret’s GAA Club, who put in so much effort to make sure the day was a big success which it was.

Next to be called on to speak was society chairman, Paul O’Brien who thanked all involved. He said it was a great honour for the society to be back in St Margaret’s again .

The ceremony ended with the traditional ‘Last Post‘ played on bugle after which the National Anthem was played.

The crowd dispersed but not until some refreshments were handed out and they enjoyed an exhibition back at the GAA Club to round off a successful day.

Source – Fingal Independent.

You may also be interested in our ‘Remembering the Past’ series at https://stmargaretsgaa.ie/tag/remembering-the-past/. A huge thanks to Paddy Finnegan who has spent years putting this series together. Over the next year we will try and catch up with Paddys research.