New York and its surrounding region will celebrate the centenary of the Easter Rising on Sunday, April 24 with a day-long series of events in Manhattan hosted by the Irish government.

According to a press release issued by the government this week, the United States is the only foreign country specifically referenced in the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, which also acknowledges the contribution of Ireland’s “exiled children in America”.

“On 24th April, we will remember the events of 1916 and we will honor the people whose courage and idealism inspired the Irish nation,” the release says.

The program of events will take place from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. in Wagner Park, Battery Park City, a location with deep historical resonance for the Irish American community. The Irish government and Irish community official commemorative ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., involving the reading of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic and the raising of the national flags. New York and Irish political leaders will participate, as will the Irish Defense Forces and the 69th Infantry Regiment.

A star-studded music and cultural program, entitled Welcoming Ireland!, will follow immediately after the ceremony at Wagner Park (capacity 6,000) and the nearby Pier A. The very best of Irish music, dance, theatre, poetry and more will be on offer.

The historic Pier A Harbor House, where the centenary celebrations kicked off in January, will be transformed into a hub for the very best in Irish film, such as the Sundance TV miniseries Rebellion and a number of Irish shorts; theater and the spoken word with productions from the Irish Arts Center, the Irish Repertory Theater, dancer Jean Butler and poet Paul Muldoon; traditional music with local session leaders, and lectures and talks on heritage and history with NYU’s Glucksman Ireland House and more.

Full program, including registration for (free) Pier A tickets, can be found at www.Ireland2016NY.com.

This is a once-in-a-century invitation to Irish Americans of all ages and their friends to engage in a wide range of special historical, cultural and artistic activities, reflecting the vibrant and extensive trans-Atlantic friendship now, and into the future, the government’s press release says. The events organized for April 24 in Battery Park City form the centerpiece of a rich, on-going centennial program in the New York metropolitan region.