Easter Rising soldiers to be honoured in city

However, unlike many Easter Rising events, this parade, which will also include a wreath laying ceremony at the Lisburn War Memorial, has been planned to honour the soldiers and police officers who died during the Dublin uprising in 1916.

The parade will be held on April 29, the date of the Easter Rising, and will move off from LaganView Enterprise Centre in Old Warren at 7.30pm.

The band will then make its way to the city’s war memorial where a short service will be led by Christ Church Senior Minister Rev Pickering, who will also say prayers to remember the fallen.

Following a wreath laying ceremony by the band, the return parade will make its way back through the city centre.

Pride of Knockmore Band Master Ian Gilbert explained the reasons behind the decision to hold the parade.

“In recent years Pride of Knockmore have taken a keen interest in military history and particularly the history of the Irish regiments,” explained Ian. “We felt it was important to mark the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising to remember the British soldiers and members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who were killed as we feel they have been forgotten over the years.

“A lot of the Sherwood Foresters were only out of training and had never even fired their guns. Some even thought they had landed in France. Many Irishmen who were in the British army, mostly in Irish regiments, were killed by their fellow Irishmen, and we felt that it was important that their sacrifice was remembered.”

The Parade will be held on April 29 at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome to attend.