Easter Rising: Centenary parade taking place in Dublin
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35905248
Easter Rising: Centenary parade taking place in Dublin
3 minutes ago
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in Dublin on Sunday where a parade is taking place to mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising.
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The parade started at 10:30 local time, with up to 250,000 people expected to line the 2.7 mile route through Dublin city centre. At 12:00, the parade will pause at Dublin's General Post Office (GPO) for a commemoration ceremony.
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The 1916 rebellion was an attempt to overthrow British rule in Ireland.
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The Easter Rising unsuccessful but is seen as a significant stepping stone to the eventual creation of the Republic of Ireland and the partition of Ireland. Over 450 people were killed and 2,500 injured during six days of fighting.
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What is notable is who will not be at event. Northern Ireland's unionist First Minister Arlene Foster and even the leader of its cross-community Alliance Party, David Ford, both made clear they were not prepared to attend the Easter Sunday parade. That is a sign of the sensitivities that still exist over a six-day battle that left British soldiers, civilians and Irish volunteers dead.
However the British government has made a point of stating that it recognises the importance of the Rising to people throughout Ireland. And the UK's Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has praised efforts by the Irish government to make these centenary events inclusive.
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