News Archive
The state funeral of Thomas Kent
The state funeral of Thomas Kent, one of those executed for their actions in 1916, will be taking place in Cork this week see details.
Thursday 17 September
The remains will be transferred to Collins Barracks in the late afternoon of Thursday 17 September, after which a private mass for his relatives will take place in the Barrack chapel.
At 6.30pm, a Tri-Service Ceremonial Guard – Army, Navy and Air Corps rotating – will take up their position around the coffin in Collins Barracks, and the public will be admitted.
The Barracks and Chapel will remain open as long as is necessary on Thursday evening to allow the public to pay their respects.
Friday, September 18
The coffin will be removed at mid-day from Collins Barracks with military accompaniment to Cork Prison for the formal Removal Service. Roads in the vicinity will be closed to facilitate this and there will be a short private service inside, to which there will be no public access due to security considerations.
At 12.45pm, the cortege will depart for Castlelyons Church with full military accompaniment.
From 1pm, guests will arrive at St Nicholas Church and any members of the public who wish to attend should gather in advance of that. There will be very limited public seating inside the church but there will be provision for viewing outside.
The Lord Mayor of Cork City and Mayor of Cork County, the Taoiseach and President will arrive shortly before the funeral Mass commences at 1.45pm.
The Mass will be celebrated by the Bishop of Cloyne, William Crean, together with the Parish Priest Fr Gerard Coleman. Fr Gerry O’Neill from Collins Barracks and Fr Michael Kidney from Cork Prison will concelebrate the mass.
Following the Mass, the re-interment of the remains will take place in the Kent family plot, which is immediately adjacent to the church.
The re-interment will feature the key elements of a State Funeral including a Military Firing Party rendering honours, the Last Post, the Reveille, and the National Anthem.