Taoiseach confirmed as speaker for 175th Thomas Francis Meagher Tricolour Celebration in Waterford

A commemoration to mark the first flying of a Tricolour flag in Waterford during English rule will take place this weekend. 

On the 7th of March 1848, Thomas Francis Meagher flew a Tricolour flag at the Wolf Tone Club in Waterford City, where it flew continuously for eight days and nights before being removed by the authorities.

The above ceremony takes place at The Waterford Crystal Building and will include, a Defence Forces Honour Guard from 3 Infantry Battalion, a Flag raising Party from the Naval Service, a marching body of Veterans and a Flag Party of National Flags and Pennants.

A wreath will be laid by Waterford man and former Irish Ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall.

In attendance will be, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, Ambassadors from the US, France, Australia, Canada, UK, Belgium & the Ukraine along with members of the 69th Infantry Regiment (Fighting Irish) New York, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and many other dignitaries.

The Irish Naval Ship L.E. James Joyce will be docked in Waterford Harbour.

The Irish Military Vehicle Group (IMVG) will have a display of vehicles and weapons and the Civil Defence will also have vehicles and equipment on show.

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, will attend and speak at the 175th Thomas Francis Meagher Tricolour Celebration in Waterford next week.

Mr. Varadkar  will mark the cultural and historical events commemorating the flying of the Irish National Flag by Thomas Francis Meagher in his native City of Waterford.

Welcoming An Taoiseach Chairperson of the organising committee Ann Cusack said:  “We are honoured and delighted that An Taoiseach can join us here in Waterford to commemorate the first ever raising of the tricolour 175 years ago.  The tricolour is not just a symbol of the state but a symbol of peace and understanding which is the message that we are proud to promote.”

Ann and her family founded the Granville Hotel in 1979, the onetime birthplace of Thomas Francis Meagher.
 
The celebration takes place on the 3rd - 5th March and includes cultural, historic events, social history lectures and gala black-tie dinner. There will be an impressive Irish Military vehicle display and Irish Naval presence in Waterford Port.
 
Mr Varadkar will be guest speaker on Sunday at the Flag Raising Ceremony at noon on Waterford’s Mall. The Ceremony will include a wreath laying ceremony, military parade and raising of the Tricolour to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the first raising of the Tricolour. Joining An Taoiseach will be members of the Diplomatic Corps including Ambassadors to Ireland from Great Britain, United States, France, Canada, Australia, Belgium and Ukraine.
 
Retired Irish diplomat Dan Mulhall is Patron of the Thomas Francis Meagher Tricolour movement. Daniel will be on hand throughout the weekend to welcome guests to all activities.

Dan’s illustrious career includes being a former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Malaysia. Dan is a Freeperson of Waterford, Freeperson of the City of London. He is an honorary President of the Yeats Society, author, and Global Distinguished Professor of Irish Studies at New York University.
 
Dan Mulhall said: “It is a great honour to have been asked to be the Patron for next month’s commemoration of Thomas Francis Meagher and the flying of our Tricolour for the first time in Waterford in 1848.
 
“Meagher has to great distinction of being memorialised on two continents, as an Irish patriot and an American civil war general. As Ambassador to the USA from 2017 to 2022, I had the opportunity to visit Meagher memorials on the Antietam battlefield and at Montana’s State Capitol in Helena. I look forward to celebrating our national flag and the man who inspired it in the place where the flag was first flown.”
 
Joining Dan as a speaker at the Thomas Francis Meagher Lectures at Waterford Medieval Museum will be HE Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland, Vincent Guérend, Ambassador of France to Ireland as well as historian and star Paralympian Jason Smyth and Justice Mary Ellen Ring, Judge of the High Court.

“This is indeed a significant weekend. not only in the history of Waterford but in Irish history. I urge all who can to join us in this highly significant weekend of celebration,” concluded Organising Committee Chairperson Ann Cusack.

Attendance for weekend activities including the Flag raising, walks and talks, is free. For more information on all the events and indeed about Thomas Francis Meagher visit www.meagherstricolour. com