‘This medal is hereby awarded to you, a serving member of Óglaigh na hÉireann, in this centenary year of 2016. An Bonn Comórtha Céad Bliain is a special token of our appreciation for the selfless service of the volunteer soldiers, sailors and aircrew of Óglaigh na hÉireann, who have served Ireland and the Irish people since the foundation of the State. In awarding you this medal, we commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising and we recognise the central role played by Óglaigh na hÉireann in the past and in this centenary year.’ - The Government of Ireland, December 2016.
Translated approximately as 'soldiers of Ireland', Óglaigh na hÉireann is the Irish language term the Irish Volunteers used as their name in the years preceding the 1916 Easter Rising.
Today, it refers to the Defence Forces Ireland, members of which work to ensure the security of the State, engage in international humanitarian operations, and assist the running of official national events.
In this centenary year, Óglaigh na hÉireann has been instrumental in the implementation of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. From delivering National flags to each and every primary school in the country to assisting the Government with ceremonies and commemorations across all seven strands of the programme, their service has enabled greater understanding of and widespread appreciation for our national heritage and history and helped to fortify pride in Irish cultural identity.
In tribute to their participation and exceptional conduct, and to acknowledge the legacy of continuous service by Óglaigh na hÉireann to the State since its foundation, a special ceremony will take place on Sunday, 4th December 2016 at Dublin Castle. Members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during 2016 will receive the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal, a specially-designed decoration created in honour of these remarkable women and men.
With an original design inspired by both the 1916 Medal and the 1916 Survivors’ Medal - including the exact ribbon colour used on the former with a central white stripe linking it to the latter - the award is an extraordinary gesture of respect and recognition for exemplary dedication and service.
The face of the new medal, based on the crest of the original Óglaigh na hÉireann – the Irish Volunteers – is an emblem which has remained unchanged since it was first designed for the Volunteers in 1913 and one which is still in use by the Defence Forces today.
On the reverse, the logo of the Ireland 2016 State Centenary Programme features seven diamonds - each one symbolising one of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation as well as the seven strands in the Ireland 2016 Centenary programme.
Learn more about the medal and this special event here.
When: Sunday, 4th December 2016, 12.00pm
Where: Dublin Castle
‘Leis seo bronntar an bonn seo ortsa, ball seirbheála d’Óglaigh na hÉireann i mbliana, 2016, bliain an chomórtha céad bliain. Is é atá sa Bhonn Comórtha Céad Bliain ná comhartha dár mbuíochas as seirbhís ghnaíúil shaighdiúirí, mhairnéalaigh agus aerchriú Óglaigh na hÉireann, atá ar fiannas d’Éirinn agus do mhuintir na hÉireann ó bunaíodh an Stát. Agus an bonn seo á bhronnadh ort, déanaimid comóradh ar chéad bliain ó Éirí Amach 1916 agus aithnímid an ról fíorthábhachtach a bhí ag Óglaigh na hÉireann san am atá thart agus atá acu fós sa bhliain chuimhneacháin seo.’ - Rialtas na hÉireann, mí na Nollag 2016
Is é atá in Óglaigh na hÉireann ar aistriúchán Béarla garbh air ná '‘soldiers of Ireland', ná an téarma Gaeilge a d’úsáid na ‘Irish Volunteers,’ mar a thugtar orthu i mBéarla, mar a dteideal sna blianta roimh Éirí Amach na Cásca 1916
Inniu, tagraíonn sé d’Fhórsaí Cosanta na hÉireann, a n-oibríonn a gcuid ball chun slándáil an Stáit a chinntiú, a théann i mbun oibríochtaí daonnúla ar fud an domhain agus a chabhraíonn le himeachtaí oifigiúla náisiúnta a rith.
I gcaitheamh na bliana comórtha seo, bhí ról ríthábhachtach ag Óglaigh na hÉireann maidir leis an gClár Comórtha Céad Bliain Éire 2016 a chur i bhfeidhm. Idir bratacha Náisiúnta a thabhairt do gach bunscoil sa tír agus cabhrú leis an Rialtas le searmanais agus ócáidí cuimhneacháin thar na seacht sraith den chlár, chothaigh a gcuid seirbhíse tuiscint níos fearr ar ár n-oidhreacht agus ár stair náisiúnta chomh maith le meas forleathan orthu agus chabhraigh sí leis an mbród as féiniúlacht chultúrtha na hÉireann a dhaingniú.
Mar ómós dá rannpháirtíocht agus dá n-iompar den chéad scoth, agus chun aitheantas a thabhairt d’oidhreacht na seirbhíse leanúnaí ag Óglaigh na hÉireann don Stát ó bunaíodh é, reáchtálfar searmanas speisialta ar an Domhnach, an 4 Nollaig 2016 i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath. Gheobhaidh baill d’Óglaigh na hÉireann a bhí ar fiannas i rith 2016 Bonn Comórtha Céad Bliain 1916, maisiúchán a dearadh go speisialta agus a cruthaíodh mar ómós do na mná agus na fir suntasacha sin.
Is é atá sa ghradam seo, a bhfuil dearadh úrnua air á spreagadh ag Bonn 1916 agus Bonn Marthanóirí 1916, - lena n-áirítear dath beacht an ribín a úsáideadh ar an gcéad cheann agus stríoc bhán sa lár air a nascann leis an dara bonn é - ná comhartha iontach de mheas agus d’aitheantas do dhíograise agus do sheirbhís den chéad scoth.
Is é atá in éadan an bhoinn nua, atá bunaithe ar armas chéad Óglaigh na hÉireann – ná suaitheantas nár tháinig athrú air ó dearadh ar dtús é d’Óglaigh na hÉireann i 1913 agus atá in úsáid ag Óglaigh na hÉireann i gcónaí.
Ar an gcúl feictear seacht ndiamant ar lógó Chlár Comórtha Céad Bliain an Stáit Éire 2016 - seasann gach diamant do dhuine de sheachtar sínitheoirí Forógra 1916 chomh maith leis na seacht sraith i gclár Comórtha Céad Bliain Éire 2016.
Faigh tuilleadh eolais ar an mbonn agus ar an imeacht speisialta seo anseo.
Cén uair: Dé Domhnaigh, an 4 Nollaig 2016, 12.00pm
Cén áit: Caisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath