The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal () is a

military decoration Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. Civil decorations award ...

awarded by the

Government of Ireland The Government of Ireland () is the executive (government), executive authority of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, headed by the , the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet (government), cabinet – is composed of Mini ...

to personnel of the

Irish Defence Forces The Defence Forces (, officially styled ) derives its origins from the Irish Volunteers. Whilst the Irish for ''Defence Forces'' is , as Ó Cearúil (1999) points out, the Defence Forces are officially styled . is used in other contexts (e.g. ...

who served in 2016 to honour the legacy of continued service by the military to the state since its foundation and in recognition for the role they played to commemorate 100 years since the 1916

Easter Rising The Easter Rising (), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the aim of establishing an ind ...

Background

The Centenary Commemorative Medal was awarded to all Permanent and Reserve personnel of the Defence Forces in December 2016 in acknowledgement for the ceremonial role played by ''Óglaigh na hÉireann'' across all aspects of the centenary commemorations programme. The medal is based on the

1916 Medal The 1916 Medal is a service medal of the Republic of Ireland. Established 24 January 1941, the medal was awarded to those who rendered recognised military service during the week of 23 April 1916 during the Easter Rising. Appearance The 1916 Meda ...

which was awarded to those who rendered recognised military service during the week of 23 April 1916. The project to deliver a

National Flag A national flag is a flag that represents and national symbol, symbolizes a given nation. It is Fly (flag), flown by the government of that nation, but can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanin ...

to all primary schools in the Republic of Ireland was conducted between September 2015 and March 2016 and involved 10,000 Defence Forces personnel visiting 3,200 schools and presenting them with a handmade National Flag and a copy of the

Proclamation of the Irish Republic The Proclamation of the Republic (), also known as the 1916 Proclamation or the Easter Proclamation, was a document issued by the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army during the Easter Rising in Ireland, which began on 24 April 1916. ...

. The

Easter Rising centenary parade The Easter Rising centenary parade took place in Dublin city on Easter Sunday, 27 March 2016 to commemorate the centenary of the Easter Rising. It involved all branches of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Defence Forces, including the Irish Army, A ...

at the

General Post Office, Dublin The General Post Office (GPO; ) is the former headquarters of — the Irish Post Office. It remains its registered office and the principal post office of Dublin Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

. Also as part of the 2016 State Centenary Programme, the Defence Forces raised the National Flag on

O'Connell Street O'Connell Street () is a street in the centre of Dublin, Ireland, running north from the River Liffey. It connects the O'Connell Bridge to the south with Parnell Street to the north and is roughly split into two sections bisected by Henry ...

every day in 2016. 13 parades were held to award the 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal to all members of the Defence Forces. The first medals were presented by

President of Ireland The president of Ireland () is the head of state of Republic of Ireland, Ireland and the supreme commander of the Defence Forces (Ireland), Irish Defence Forces. The presidency is a predominantly figurehead, ceremonial institution, serving as ...

Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins (; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster, and sociologist who has been serving as the president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator ...

and members of the government at a state ceremony in

Dublin Castle Dublin Castle () is a major Government of Ireland, Irish government complex, conference centre, and tourist attraction. It is located off Dame Street in central Dublin. It is a former motte-and-bailey castle and was chosen for its position at ...

on 4 December 2016, as part of the Centenary programme. This was followed by 12 regional events at selected military installations nationwide presided over by Minister

Paul Kehoe Paul Kehoe (born 11 January 1973) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Wexford constituency from 2002 to 2024. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Re ...

Design

The medal is a dark bronze alloy 35 mm in diameter, fashioned (after the manner of the official Defence Forces crest) in the form of a circle of flame representing the sunburst on which eight points of a star are superimposed. The letters 'I' and 'V' are embossed on the left and right of centre of the sunburst, denoting Irish Volunteer. On the reserve side shall be inscribed the dates '1916–2016' with seven diamonds, representing the seven signatories of the

Ribbon

The ribbon is 5 cm in length and is 31 mm wide with 1 x 14 mm wide green stripe, 1 x 3 mm white stripe and 1 x 14 mm orange stripe.

Suspension

The ribbon hangs from a bronze alloy pin-back brooch in which bears a Celtic interlace design.

Service bar

The bar which is joined to the suspender bears the inscription ''Cuimhnig Ar 1916'' which is translated 'Remember 1916' with a

St Brendan Brendan of Clonfert (c. AD 484 – c. 577) is one of the early Celtic Christianity, Irish monastic saints and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is also referred to as Brendan the Navigator, Brendan the Voyager, Brendan the Anchorite, ...

's Knot at either side.

Eligibility

The Minister may award the medal to members of the Permanent Defence Forces, members of the Reserve Defence Forces, members of the Army Nursing Service and members of the Chaplaincy Service who are in service at any time during the period 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2016 inclusive. Members of the Defence Forces, Army Nursing Service and Chaplaincy Service who die in service in the year 2016 will be eligible for the award of the medal.

Posthumous awards

A posthumous award may be awarded to one member of the family of the deceased person.

Order of precedence

The 1916 Centenary Commemorative Medal will be worn in order of precedence after the

United Nations Peacekeepers Medal The United Nations Peacekeepers Medal () is awarded to those members of the Irish Defence Forces or Chaplaincy Service who have served overseas on a United Nation Mission or United Nations Mandated Mission. Criteria The UN Peacekeepers Medal was i ...

and the International Operational Service Medal (if applicable) and before any UN, NATO/PfP or EU medal.

References

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Military of the Republic of Ireland Orders, decorations, and medals of Ireland Courage awards Awards established in 2016 2016 establishments in Ireland Centenary of the Easter Rising