Easter celebrations solemnly observed in Dublin

Dublin, 5 April 1915 - Good Friday has been solemnly observed in Dublin. There was a general cessation of business and the streets of the capital were quiet. The Freeman’s Journal reported that ‘the idea of a holiday on Good Friday is repugnant to Catholics’.

The day is sacred to pious exercises and meditation on the Great Mystery of Redemption. Catholic churches in the city were full from early morning and the devotions of the Stations of the Cross were devoutly recited.

Easter Sunday at St Patrick's

On Sunday large congregations were present for both morning and afternoon services at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

The Dean who, as is customary was in the pulpit for Easter Sunday, told his congregation: 'Never before since Our Lord's crucifixion and triumphand resurrection, had a sadder Easter dawned on this world than the present one. There were more people mourning for their dead today than there ever were on one day in the history of the world.'

The choir performed the hymns 'Jesus Christ is risen today' and Handel's beautiful anthem 'I know that my redeemer liveth'. The service closed with the singing of the national anthem.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]