The Easter Rising/Éirí Amach na Cásca

Today is the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising, which took place largely in Dublin but that also involved smaller but similarly-spirited actions elsewhere in Ireland.

One of my grandfathers took part in one of these, armed only with farm implements, and was imprisoned for a time by the British because of it. A shipment of arms arranged from Germany through the US organisation Clan na Gael had been intercepted by the Royal Navy, though it may have been inadequate for the rising anyway.

One of my grandfather's own grandfathers in turn was English, as of course am I - such is the way of these islands.

The Easter Rising is one of the key events in the history of the British and Irish Isles, and a commemorative military parade has taken place in Dublin for the first time in 35 years, reported today by RTÉ News.

BBC Northern Ireland also has an article on observances there and in the Irish capital.

For more details about the original event, see the Irish Times' anniversary supplement and the BBC's history feature.