CARRICKMORE, will play host to the county commemoration of the 1916 Rising on Easter Sunday. However there will be other local Easter commemorations the length and breadth of the country.
Thousands of Tyrone republicans are expected to attend the commemorations being held to honour Ireland's patriot dead and commemorate the 1916 rising.
Chairman of the Tyrone National Graves committee, Brian Cawley, commented, "Easter is a time when republicans honour the patriot dead and also remembers the sacrifices of their families' friends and comrades.
"Tyrone National Graves Association which is charged with remembering the patriot dead of Tyrone have arranged over 30 commemorations throughout the county from the Donegal border to the Lough Shore.
Mr Cawley added, "It is important that republicans throughout Tyrone attend the local and county commemorations and that they also wear and Easter lily as a symbol of remembrance to the patriot dead."
The main County Commemoration will be held in Carrickmore where the main speaker will be Martina Anderson from Derry who was recently elected to the Assembly. Martina has a strong republican background she was arrested at eighteen years of age but was released on bail after two Months in Armagh women's jail she was again arrested in 1985 serving a number of years in Full Sutton and Durham Prisons before being transferred to Maghaberry prison where she was subsequently released in November 1998 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
Since her release she has worked tirelessly on the Sinn Fein peace strategy heading up the party's all-Ireland department and the party's unionist engagement programme before her election to the Assembly where it is expected she will be appointed to one of the Sinn Fein ministers.
Two other major commemorations will take place, in Coalisland on Easter Saturday, and Ardboe on Easter Monday, the main speaker in Coalisland will be Martin McGunness who is currently MP for the area and will be Deputy First Minister in any new assembly. Main Speaker at the Easter Monday Commemoration in Ardboe will be Arthur Morgan TD.
Mr Cawley said he expected large numbers to attend the commemorations on this the 91st anniversary of the 1916 rising. "There is a duty to honour those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the pursuit of Irish Freedom. We should always remember the young men and woman of Tyrone who played there part in a totally unselfish way. This Easter just as in Easters past let us honour Ireland patriot dead by wearing a Easter lily"
In Aghayaran proceedings get underway at Aghyaran at mid-day, at Altmore at 10am, Aughnagar 9.30, Carrickmore 12.15 pm, Broughderg, 11.30, Donaghmore 11.30am, Cranagh 9.30, Dunmoyle 10.45, Drumragh 1.15pm, Tullysaran, 10.45am, Edendork 10.45, Greencastle 9.30, Galbally 10.30, Loughmacrory 12.15pm Kildress 12.15, Pomeroy 11.30, Rock 11.30, Eglish 12.00 noon and Clonoe at 12.30p
Wreath Laying Ceremonies Easter Sunday will take place at; Ardboe, Ballinderry, Ardboe Old Cross, Castlederg, Cookstown, Dromore, Dunamore, Dunngannon (Carland Rd), Fintona, Moortown, Trillick, Seskinore.
There will be Wreath Laying Ceremonies on Easter Saturday at Strathroy at 5.30pm Moy 6pm, Killyclogher 7pm, and at Drumragh Old Graveyard 7.45pm.
There will be a local commemoration at Coalisland on Easter Saturday The event will begin with an assembly at Coalisland Square 3.00pm the main speaker will be Sinn Fein's chief negotiator and deputy First Minister elect, Martin McGuinness.
The Lough shore Martyrs commemoration will take place at Ardboe proceedings will get under way with an assembly at 2pm at the Diamond Corner. The main speaker will be Arthur Morgan TD. There will also be commemoration at Brocagh.
The organisers of the County Commemoration in Carrickmore would appeal to everyone attending commemoration to participate in the parade.
