Early morning Derry vigil to mark end of 1916 Easter Rising executions

A vigil is to be held in Derry in the early hours of tomorrow morning to mark the ending of the executions of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.

The event will take place at 3.45am at the newly-unveiled republican monument on Racecourse Road in the Shantallow area of the city.

It is being held at the time and date the executions of James Connolly and Sean MacDiarmada.

A similar event was held on 3 May last to mark the start of the executions.

Fifteen of those sentenced to death following the Rising (including all seven signatories of the Proclamation) were executed by firing squad at Kilmainham Gaol between 3 and 12 May.

Among them was the seriously wounded Connolly, who was shot while tied to a chair because of his shattered ankle.

They included: : 3 May: Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh and Thomas Clarke 4 May: Joseph Plunkett, William Pearse, Edward Daly and Michael O'Hanrahan 5 May: John MacBride 8 May: Éamonn Ceannt, Michael Mallin, Seán Heuston and Con Colbert 12 May: James Connolly and Sean MacDiarmada

Sir Roger Casement was tried in London for high treason and hanged at Pentonville Prison on 3 August, 1916.