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Mayor of Kerry Cllr Pat McCarthy lays a wreath in honour of the first casualties of the Easter Rising as an Army Piper plays a lament. PICTURE: VALERIE O'SULLIVAN
 

 
THREE Irish Volunteers who were the first fatalities of the Easter Rising were commemorated in Killorglin this morning.
Con Keating, Daniel Sheehan and Charlie Monahan drowned when the car they were in went off the pier at Ballykissane pier on Good Friday night 1916.
They were on their way to Caherciveen’s wireless station at Valentia Island with a view to transmitting a series of signals which would fool the Royal Navy into believing that a German attack on Scottish naval bases was imminent.
It was hoped that this would allow the Aud, the German ship carrying arms for the Irish Volunteers, to proceed unmolested through Irish waters.
At the State ceremony the three men were honoured, with invited guests, including relatives of the men, gathering at 8am.
Guest of honour at the event was Cllr Pat McCarthy, cathaoirleach, Kerry County Council.
A Defence Forces National Colour Party was present on the pier for the duration of the ceremony.
Music was performed by the Killorglin Pipe and Drum Band and local harpist Rheidun Schlesinger.
Kay Keating, a grandniece of Con Keating, spoke about the tragedy.
The Cathaoirleach was then invited to lay a wreath, which was presented to him by members of the Defence Force. A minute’s silence followed.
Meanwhile, The arrival of Sir Roger Casement on Kerry shores 100 years ago today is being marked by a State Ceremony now underway which is attended by President Michael D Higgins as part of the centrepiece of Kerry’s marking of the 1916 centenary.
At 12 noon, the only State ceremony to take place outside of Dublin began at Banna Strand to mark 100 years to the day since Sir Roger Casement and his comrades landed in an attempt to arm the volunteers of the Rising.
The keynote address is being given by President Higgins who will lay a wreath at the anchor of the Aud.
The national flag will be raised, the Proclamation read and the Air Corps will perform a flyover.
After the event President Higgins will unveil a bust of Roger Casement in Ardfert Village before visiting the Casement exhibition at the County Museum.