Ireland marks Easter Rising without public gatherings amid pandemic

The Irish government on Sunday marked the Easter Rising, a failed armed insurrection in 1916, without public gatherings, as COVID-19 cases approached 10,000 in the country.

President Michael D. Higgins led a special commemoration marking the 104th anniversary of the Easter Rising at his official residence, according to a statement by the president's office.

The commemoration began with Higgins ringing the Peace Bell, followed by a prayer, a wreath-laying ceremony, and a minute's silence.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, along with a few officials, attended a brief ceremony inside the General Post Office (GPO), the headquarters used by rebels during the Easter Rising, reported the Irish national radio and television broadcaster RTE.

There was no public involvement in both events because of the anti-virus restrictions imposed by the government, according to RTE.

Data from the Department of Health showed that as of Sunday, Ireland has registered a total of 9,655 COVID-19 cases with 334 deaths.

The Easter Rising is an armed insurrection launched by the Irish republicans to end the British rule in Ireland. It began on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, and last for six days. Almost 500 people were killed in the rising.

(CGTN)