On Sunday the 24th of April 2016 in Croke Park Dublin, on the one hundredth Anniversary of the 1916 Rising, a crowd in excess of 80,000 people watched as the BOACC Ashbourne re-enactment group marched into the centre of the pitch and performed Irish Volunteer rifle drill during ‘’Laochra’’, the GAA National Centenary Commemoration.
The Ashbourne Volunteers marched out the sound of cheering as the Foggy Dew was sung and provided an Irish Volunteers honour guard during the reading of the Proclamation in front of the capacity crowd. BOACC (Battle of Ashbourne Centenary Commemoration Committee) was invited to take part following their hugely successful re-enactment of the Battle of Ashbourne in Meath on the 28th of March 2016 which was acclaimed as one of the highlights of the State commemorations. In addition to their role in the GAA spectacular the Ashbourne re-enactment group had a another busy weekend in Meath on Saturday they took part in the Kells 1916 Commemoration marching in the parade before putting on a battle re-enactment on the Fairgreen. On Sunday following early morning rehearsals in Croke Park they left to take part in the Dunboyne 1916 Commemoration and the opening of the town 1916 Memorial. During that event the Ashbourne Volunteers at the Invitation of the Dunboyne Memorial Committee fired a salute after which Tóla Collier read the Proclamation. BOACC have a more events scheduled this year and will continue throughout the Decade of Centenaries to provide Living History Re-enactments, historical lectures and displays. You can follow BOACC and read more about Meath and Irelands Revolutionary history from 1912 to 1923 on Facebook at Battle of Ashbourne 1916. |
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