17/05/2016

Taoiseach In US For 1916 Commemoration Events

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny will travel to Washington DC today to attend 1916 Commemoration events in the US.

The Taoiseach will join with US Vice President Joe Biden, to formally open the Ireland 100 Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

'Ireland 100: Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts and Culture' is a three-week long festival of Irish theatre, music, dance and literature and forms the centrepiece of the Government's programme of over 250 events commemorating the 1916 Rising in the United States.

On Wednesday, the Taoiseach will attend a number of official events to mark 1916 and the role of Irish-America in the Rising.

In what has been described as "a very rare honour", the Taoiseach will plant an Irish Oak tree on the grounds of the United States Congress at Capitol Hill, at a centenary ceremony. He will also visit the prestigious Library of Congress to view items from its collections related to the 1916 Rising.

Later on Wednesday, the Taoiseach will attend a reception in the Statuary Hall of the US Capitol Building to celebrate Ireland-US relations in this 100th anniversary of 1916. Congressional Leaders and Representatives will be in attendance at the various events.

(MH/LM)

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