Guide to the Impressive Elements of the Ireland 2016 Easter Sunday Parade
Written by This Sunday will see the main event of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Celebrations. A spectacular parade of colour and pageantry will take place right through the city centre. We caught up with the Defence Forces today to find out what is going to happen this Sunday for the parade. The first think to say is, this is definitely one not to be missed! To put it into context, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is 2.5km long, this Easter parade will be 4.5km long and will contain 3,700 uniformed personnel marching, 77 vehicles including vintage military vehicles, 17 aircraft, 5 horses and a 21, twenty five pound gun salute!
The marching elements of the military ceremonial parade will be comprised of personnel drawn from Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defence Forces, Defence Forces Veterans & from selected Emergency Services. The marching troops will be complimented by Defence Forces bands, pipers, flag parties, Equitation School horses and an Air Corps Fleet Fly Past.
The Parades Composition is made up of 8 parts knows as serials. They are:
- Serial 1 – Flags, Cadets, Overseas, Veterans, Horses
- Serials 2&3 – Army Brigades & armoured vehicles
- Air Corps Fleet Fly Past – 17 Aircraft
- Serial 4 – Defence Forces Training Centre & vehicles
- Serial 5 – Overseas Troops & Vintage vehicles
- Serial 6 – Air Corps & Naval Service
- Serial 7 – Emergency Services & vehicles
- Serial 8 – Massed Bands
- 21 Gun Salute from Royal Hospital Kilmainham
Images courtesy of the Defence Forces Flickr Account
Key Events for the Defence Forces on Easter Sunday include:
- Cross Parade Start Line St Stephens Green
- RCSI Flag Ceremony
- Dublin Castle Ceremony
- Veterans and Emergency Services join at High Street
- GPO Wreath Laying Ceremony
- Air Corps Fly Past
- Parade Crosses O’Connell Bridge
We’d like to thank the Defence Forces for sharing this content with us and all of us here in DublinTown are looking forward to the parade!
To keep up today with the Defence Forces ahead of and during the Easter events follow them on twitter
