Villiers to lay foundation stone for Glasnevin Monumental Cross of Sacrifice
Rt Hon Theresa Villiers to lay foundation stone for Cross of Sacrifice in Dublin Cemetery
The Secretary of State will today attend a ceremony alongside the Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD, jointly to lay the foundation stone for a monumental Cross of Sacrifice at Glasnevin Cemetery.
The Cross is being erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, supported by the Irish government, to mark the centenary of the First World War and commemorate the sacrifice of all Irish soldiers who lost their lives in the World Wars.
This event forms part of a wider programme of visits and events attended by UK and Irish Ministers to mark the centenary and the decade of commemorations in Ireland.
Speaking in advance of the event at Glasnevin, Ms Villiers said:
It is a great honour for me to attend this event and lay the foundation stone for this new Cross of Sacrifice. I can think of no better setting for a memorial to remember the tens of thousands of Irishmen who made the ultimate sacrifice during the World Wars.
The choice of Glasnevin for this monument, as with the other Crosses of Sacrifice throughout the world, is very much in keeping with what the design symbolises: the Cross representing the faith of the majority of the dead, and the sword representing the military character of the cemetery.
Soon people from both Northern and Southern Ireland will have a place to come together in quiet contemplation to pay tribute to the memory of those, from across the whole island of Ireland, who gave so much for our freedom.
During her visit to Dublin, the Secretary of State will also meet An Tanaiste to discuss the current political situation, and attend the address by An Taoiseach at the BIPA Plenary Session. She will also take the opportunity to meet opposition TDs, and the International Institute of European Affairs.