By Dan Walsh on Vinegar Hill
The annual historic ceremony of raising the Tricolour on Vinegar Hill took place today (Thursday) marking the 176th anniversary of the events of March 7th 1848 at Waterford and Enniscorthy. A public event, there was a welcome to all from Edel Nolan, Staff Officer, Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, who performed the duties of master of ceremonies.
Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, Cllr John O’Rourke said it is “an honour to welcome you all to this commemoration ceremony” and stated that “he is delighted that Wexford County Council marks this important occasion.” He continued; “This is a significant event worthy of us coming together to remember the meaning behind the Tricolour and drawing its relevance in our own lives in 2024.
“It is a wonderful day for us all to remember the brave men and women who believed in celebrating Ireland, a day to remind us about the significant historic events that Enniscorthy has witnessed, and a day to remind us to strive towards honouring the noble vision of the Enniscorthy patriots who sang, cheered and saluted the Tricolour on its way to this very location 176 years ago,” concluded Cllr O’Rourke.
Guest speaker and renowned local historian Brian Cleary delivered an inspired address and began by claiming that Enniscorthy “must rank among the best Councils in all-Ireland for remembering our history and most striking in recent years by the initiation of the 1798 Bicentenary here on this Hill with the massive Bastille Day Celebrations in 1989.”
“We are all aware of the unfurling of our Tricolour in Waterford and Enniscorthy on March 7th 1848; and that it only became our national flag after 1916 – when it flew over the GPO and over the Athenaeum in Enniscorthy in repudiation of British colonialism and affirmation of an Irish nation and identity,” stated Mr Cleary.
The Tricolour was hoisted by Sgt. John Tyrrell and Lieut. Conor Furlong of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, James’ Barracks, Kilkenny and Oglaigh na h-Éireann. Anthony Nolan sounded the Reveillie on the trumpet and the short ceremony concluded with the National Anthem.
Attendance included Deputies Johnny Mythen and Paul Kehoe, Cllrs Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Jackser Owens, Cathal Byrne and Aidan Browne, Colette Nolan, Enniscorthy LEA Sinn Féin election candidate, members of Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society, representatives of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre and Enniscorthy Castle and Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and Enniscorthy branch of the Red Cross. Edel Nolan was master of ceremonies.
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