A National Services Day has taken place at Dublin Castle this afternoon.
The public were invited to view and interact with stalls representing 24 State and voluntary frontline services in the country.
Proceedings began with a wreath-laying ceremony to honour those in died in the services, attended by Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe and the Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan.
A minute’s silence was held to remember those who had lost their lives in national service. The Last Post was played before the Tricolour was raised to full mast and Amhrán na bhFiann played.
A parade of services, vehicles and bands travelled from the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square, down O’Connell Street and Dame Street before finishing at Dublin Castle.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Donohoe said today’s commemoration was important: “Today reminds us that there are many public servants who do put themselves at risk.
“They put themselves at risk at a time in which citizens can be vulnerable, also at moments of danger.
“And that is why today is such an important day, because it allows us to recognise all of our different public servants across all 20 different organisations, to thank them for their work, but also to understand the variety of work that goes on in looking after our country,” added Mr Donohoe.
Similar events are taking place today in Cork, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Drogheda and Wexford.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin told those at the ceremony that the riots in Dublin last November had “showed all of our services in their brightest light”.
Mr Geoghegan said that many of the organisations represented at the ceremony “came into our city, protected our city, secured our city, made our city safe”.
“They themselves were put in harm’s way,” he said.
He said: “It’s because of people like you and the organisations that you represent that we have a safe city, a safe country and that when people are in danger or where people are in need, that you are there to protect them.
“Perhaps we don’t say it enough.”
Mr Geoghegan said that as a politician, who knocks on doors, “it is a hugely felt emotion amongst Irish people and amongst Dubliners as to how proud we are of our services”.
“I think it is incumbent on every politician to support you in any way that we possibly can,” he said.
Founding board member of National Services Day Owen Medland said the event is about the public being able to “celebrate” and “commemorate”.
“And for us, as the 24 State and voluntary organisations, to inspire the next generation,” he added.
Regional parades were also held in six other locations outside the capital, including Co Cork, Co Kildare, Co Kilkenny, Co Limerick, Drogheda and Co Wexford.
“We have regional parades and we’re really looking to be able to engage with the public and allow our youth to come up close, with all the equipment the people that keep us safe every day,” he said.
“Everyone from the gardaí to our Defence Forces, National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, through our voluntary services, the Irish Coast Guard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Order of Malta, St John’s, the list is endless, but they are all part of a network that keeps us safe every day,” he added.
Mr Medland said National Services Day “breeds friendship and camaraderie among the people that provide those services”.
Fr Tom Dalton, an RNLI volunteer and Courtown crew member, said a prayer at the ceremony to remember the lives lost.
“I think sometimes we forget the sacrifice that people make most times as crew on the lifeboat or any of the other services that are here today,” he said.
“We think about doing our best to help people to protect people who are in trouble, but sometimes that does mean putting our lives at risk and there are loved ones, who are missing family and friends today,” he added.
Fr Dalton said it is “really important as we gather that we remember those who give their lives in the service of others”.
