FORMER Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who died last month at the age of 66, will be remembered at this year’s Easter 1916 Commemorations being held at various locations over the weekend. 

The main Fermanagh county commemoration will be taking place on Easter Sunday at the Parish Hall in Newtownbutler at 2.30pm. The event will mark the 101st anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising and is set to be addressed by the former Finance Minister and South Belfast MLA Mairtin O Muilleoir. 

Speaking ahead of the event, Sinn Fein MLA Jemma Dolan said: “We have been commemorating Easter 1916 for 100 years now, since Republican Women of the Cumann na mBan organised the first commemoration in 1917.

“We come together to reassert our commitment to the full implementation of the Proclamation. Now, more than ever, we need to see implemented the principles of equality and sovereignty set out in the Proclamation.

“This year in Fermanagh we also want to celebrate our success in the recent election whilst also remembering the loss of a great leader in Martin McGuinness.

“I would encourage republicans and nationalists to join us and to wear their Easter Lily with pride,” she added.  

Other events are taking place across the county on Easter Sunday include at the Monument to the Roslea Martyrs at 2.30pm. At the same time, Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA Michelle Gildernew will address Cavan’s main commemoration at Kilnavart Cemetery, Ballyconnell. 

Her MLA colleagues in this constituency, Jemma Dolan and Sean Lynch will travel to Leitrim and Longford respectively to honour Ireland’s patriot dead. On Easter Monday at 3.30pm, Sligo-based Cllr Chris MacManus will speak at the annual commemoration in Pettigo.