National Day of Remembrance

On 20 March 2022, local authorities across the island of Ireland held commemorative events as part of the National Day of Remembrance. The National Day of Remembrance was designated by the Government in recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers throughout the pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to COVID-19. On the day, Dublin City held an event in Merrion Square Park.

Opening with a speech from Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland, the intimate event saw performances from a variety of artists, including poets Paula Meehan and Theo Dorgan. Meehan read 'The Light Returning’, a poem written out of the darkness of the COVID years as a gesture of hope and resilience. Speaking about the poem, Meehan said “it celebrates the comfort of the natural world and offers gratitude for surviving to welcome back the light of spring”. Dorgan read his translation of the poem into Irish, ‘An Solas ag Filleadh'.

There were additional performances from Uilleann piper Fiadh Fitzpatrick and the Continuum Youth Choir, with participation from Dublin Civil Defence and Dublin Fire Brigade. Speaking about the event, Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliand said, “after a challenging two years and countless hardships faced, this event is an opportunity for the people of Dublin to come together and remember those we lost and to recognise those who guided us through the pandemic. All are welcome to attend and share in this collective moment of remembrance and reflection.” When asked about their involvement on the day, Civil Defence Officer James McConnell remarked, "Over the past two years, our team has provided over 54,000 voluntary hours towards the City's efforts to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are delighted that the hard work of our dedicated volunteers will be recognised at this important event."

Photos by Paul Reardon Photography.