Easter Sunday commemoration for Offaly veterans at Tullamore Courthouse
An Offaly family with a number of connections to the Easter Rising and the War of Independence will host the third annual Easter Commemoration on the steps of Tullamore Courthouse on Sunday next, Easter Sunday, April 20.
The commemoration, which gets underway at 12 noon at the Old Veteran's Memorial, is being held to honour Offaly men and women who participated in the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
Odhran Condron and his mother, Breda, are behind the drive to honour the veterans, and organised the first Easter Commemoration in Tullamore in over 40 years in 2023, after it had been ceased due to 'The Troubles' in the North during the 1980's.
The Condron family have a number of strong connections to some of the most pivotal moments in Irish history, with Odhran's grandfather, Sean O'Kelly, being OC of the Offaly IRA Brigade and a participant in the War of Independence. Peadar Bracken was married to Sean's sister Moira and he also played a role during the 1916 Easter Rising. He was reputed by many to have fired the first shots of the Easter Rising, while Sean's brother Seamus 'Jimmy' Kelly from Mucklagh fought in the battle of Ashbourne under Thomas Ashe.
The Condrons are keen to stress that the Easter Commemoration in Tullamore is a family-based event with no political affiliations, and they have issued an invitation to everyone to attend on Sunday morning next, particularly the relatives and friends of Offaly Volunteers.
The Easter Commemoration in Tullamore has been growing in popularit over the past three years, and a new feature of the event is the decision of the Condron family to remember people from Offaly who were involved in the historical events which have shaped modern Ireland, but whose names were never acknowledged in any previous commemorations.
To this end, the 2025 Easter Commemoration in Tullamore will honour Ted Berry and Matt Brien from Killeigh.
The Easter Commemoration on Sunday next will consist of local historians, pipers,drummers and relatives of those who played any part in the fight for Irish Independence. Members of the Tullamore branch of the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) will also be participating in the Colour party.
The event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.