The National Day of Commemoration, An Lá Comórtha Náisiúnta, took place on Sunday, 13 July 2025 throughout Ireland. This year the principal event was held at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. Ceremonies were also held in Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford, and Sligo.
The President of ARCO, Major-General Maureen O’Brien (Retd), accompanied by Captain David Barry NS (Retd), represented the Association at Kilmainham.
The National Day of Commemoration remembers all those Irish soldiers who lost their lives in past wars, or on military service with the United Nations, and other International Organisations in the service of peace.
The military and religious State Ceremony in the Royal Hospital was conducted in the presence of An tUachtarán, An Taoiseach, members of the Government, the Oireachtas, the Council of State, the Diplomatic Corps, the Judiciary, and Northern Ireland representatives.
Attendees included the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the next-of-kin of those who died on service with the United Nations, relatives of the 1916 Leaders, and a wide cross-section of the community. Also in attendance were members of Representative Associations and Veterans Associations including RACO, PDFORRA, RDFRA, ARCO, ONE, IUNVA, the Artillery Club, the Cavalry Club, along with a significant number of Defence Forces Veterans.
The ceremony commenced at 1100hrs with the Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Rossa Mulcahy formally welcoming An tUachtarán Michael D. Higgins on his arrival at the Royal Hospital accompanied by a Captain’s Escort of Honour drawn from 2 Cavalry Squadron.
President Higgins received the Presidential Salute from a Captain’s Guard of Honour under the command of Captain Ciara Connaughton, 6 Infantry Battalion. The Guard of Honour was drawn from the three components of the Defence Forces namely the Army (6 Infantry Battalion), Naval Service and Air Corps.
The Parade Commander was Lieutenant-Colonel Niall Verling, Defence Forces Headquarters. Commandant Sarah Conlon, Defence Forces Headquarters, was the Parade Marshal.
The President laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Ireland at the Commemorative Plaque. This was followed by a minute’s silence, ending by the firing of a 25 Pounder Gun Howitzer deployed by 2 Brigade Artillery Regiment. Military honours were rendered by a Cadet Guard of Honour.
The ceremony concluded with the playing of The National Anthem and a fly past of four PC9s from the Air Corps.
