By Dan Walsh at Oulart
This morning, the 4th annual Easter Commemoration at the Mise Éire monument in Oulart village honoured local volunteers from the 1916 Rising, with a good turnout and pleasant conditions.
Chris Furlong from Kilnamanagh, chairman of the Oulart Hill Walking Hub organising committee, acknowledged all attendees and participants.
Thirty-five names of the Oulart Company 3rd Battalion North Wexford Brigade were remembered with a roll call presented by Sean Dempsey.
This was followed by the reading of the 1916 Proclamation read by Peter O’Brien.
Barry Lacey, the Ballycarney-born archaeologist and historian delivered the annual address. This year’s title was ‘The Importance of the Past, in the Present.’
James Adams sang ‘Grace’ while Cllr Mary Farrell sang ‘Meet Me at the Pillar’ and Amhrán na bFiann to conclude a dignified ceremony.
The attendance included Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne TD, Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr Mary Farrell, Willie French, Chairman of Wexford Historical Society, Rev. James Hammel, Úi Cinsealaigh Historical Society and historian Brian Ó Cléirigh.
Afterwards, Barry Lacey was invited to sign the distinguished Book of Oulart following in the footsteps of journalist Martina Devlin, Dr Ray Bassett and last year, renowned newspaper editor, writer and historian Tim Pat Coogan.
The Mise Éire Memorial, designed by Oulart historian Brian Cleary with inscriptions by Paudric Doyle, Bunclody, and stonework by Martin Codd, Rathnure, opened on October 1st, 2017.
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