Taoiseach to attend Easter Rising commemorations in Washington

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to travel to Washington DC on Tuesday to attend the biggest events outside Dublin to commemorate the Easter Rising.

Mr Kenny will attend the opening of the "Ireland 100" festival at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts tonight.

Ireland 100 is a three-week festival of Irish theatre, music, dance and literature celebrating Irish arts and culture.

The event will be hosted by the actress Fiona Shaw and features dancer Colin Dunne, soprano Tara Erraught, tenor Anthony Kearns, fiddler Liz Knowles, actor Louis Lovett, pianist Barry Douglas and the US National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Irish conductor, David Trophy.

On Wednesday, the Taoiseach will attend a number of official events to mark the events of 1916 and the role of Irish-America in the Rising.

He will attend the ceremonial planting of a tree on the grounds of the United States Congress at Capitol Hill. The planting of a new tree there is a rare honour with only two other ceremonial trees planted in recent years.

The Taoiseach will also attend the debate and vote on a resolution commemorating the centenary of the Rising in the US House of Representatives.

The resolution, sponsored by Congressman Peter King and supported by many members of congress will "recall the special ties between Ireland and the United States . . . and recognises the importance of nurturing and renewing the unique relationship between the United States and Ireland and their peoples into the future.

On Thursday evening a reception will be hosted by the Irish ambassador to the United States, Anne Anderson in the US Capitol.