With an Irish navy ship on station in a calm sea, Ireland’s state commemoration for Sir Roger Casement took place yesterday at Banna Strand in County Kerry. President Michael D. Higgins is seen here speaking of the events in the early hours of Good Friday, 1916 when Casement, Robert Monteith and Daniel Bailey came ashore from a German U-Boat. An attempt to rendezvous with The Aud, which was carrying 20,000 guns for use in the Easter Rising had failed. Casement, who was unwell, remained behind at McKenna’s Fort, while Monteith and Bailey walked to Tralee to alert the local Volunteer leadership. Casement was arrested and taken to jail in England. He was tried for treason, found guilty and would be hanged on August 3, 1916 at Pentonville Prison. As well as a keynote address, President Higgins also presided over the laying of a wreath at the anchor of The Aud. Photo by Domnick Walsh Eye Focus Ltd. and via RollingNews.ie.
