The President will pay tribute to frontline and emergency workers as the country marks a national day of commemoration for all those who died from Covid-19.
Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will hold a special Remembrance Ceremony today at Aras an Uachtarain.
The event is being held for all those who died from Covid-19, those grieving the loss of loved ones and frontline workers.
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Those attending the ceremony will include Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, party leaders, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland and frontline workers from across the country.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin was also due to take part but he is isolating in the US after contracting Covid-19 on his St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington.
Mr Higgins will address the event and then ring the Peace Bell five times in honour of those who died. As part of the ceremony, Mr Higgins and his wife will plant an oak tree in the Commemorative Garden as a lasting memorial.
In a statement President Higgins said: “Today is a very solemn occasion, at which we will give honour and hold in memory those we have lost, as well those who have suffered the absence of an opportunity for final moments shared and
who could not release their grief. We have to the forefront of our minds the more than half a million people in this country who lost loved ones during the pandemic, and all those, too, living abroad who have endured painful separation from loved ones at home in Ireland at times of great distress and grief.
“We recall how hard it was that there was no space for those normal expressions of grief that had to be curtailed because of the restrictions imposed to curtail the virus’ spread.”
“We think too of those carers who had to forgo offering their care and visits to those they love."
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