CREW members of the Marita Ann and the Cabra Historial Society will be among those laying wreaths at a Kerry Sinn Féin event on Banna Strand this Saturday.

The event, which begins at 3pm at the promenade, will launch Kerry Sinn Féin’s 1916 Centenary Events programme to be held in the county throughout 2016. Martin Ferris will be the main speaker.

Kerry Sinn Fein will be joined by the Cabra Historical Society, who will be dressed in 1916 period Volunteer costume with rifles. This will be their first outing of 2016 and will also launch their programme of events for 2016.

Cabra Historical Society chose Kerry to launch their events as the county played a pivotal role in the events leading up to the Rising and was the place where the first casualties of 1916 took place.

They will give a demonstration on a number of military drills and will also sing the Volunteers song “Óró, sé do bheatha abhaile” and “Lonely Banna Strand”.

Crew members of the Marita Ann – the ship seized by the Irish Navy just off the south Kerry coast carrying arms intended for the Provisional IRA back in 1984 – will also attend and lay wreaths.

Refreshments and entertainment will be provided in Kate Browne’s afterwards where the programme of events will be officially announced. The programme will include events in Banna, Ballybunion, Ballyduff, Dingle, Killorglin, Rathmore and Tralee.