Minister Varadkar attends Department of Social Protection Centenary event

The Department of Social Protection has today marked the 100th anniversary of the execution of Seán Mac Diarmada with a special event attended by newly-appointed Minister Leo Varadkar.

The event was held in the department's headquarters at Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Seán Mac Diarmada was executed in Kilmainham Gaol on 12 May 1916.

The event included a lecture by Dr Brian Feeney on "Who was Seán Mac Diarmada" and was followed by traditional music and song. Seán Mac Diarmada was a polio survivor, and the event was attended by Roisin Nolan, Vice-chair of the Post Polio Support Group which is producing a special edition of the Group's magazine "Survivor" which will be dedicated to Seán Mac Diarmada.

Minister Varadkar, who had also attended a commemoration ceremony in Kilmainham Gaol that same morning, described the Áras Mhic Dhiarmada event as the highlight of the department's Centenary programme. The department is also marking the Centenary with a number of regional events in department offices throughout the year.

ENDS