The annual commemoration for the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bomb will take place on Monday, 6th August, the 73rd anniversary of the bombing, at 1.10 p.m. at the memorial cherry tree in Merrion Square park, Dublin 2.
An estimated 80,000 people were directly killed by the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, with casualities reaching 140,000 within a year. Approximately 15,000 nuclear weapons remain in the world today. While this is less than the Cold War peak, it is still enough to destroy life on earth as we know it many times over.
The ceremony will take place at the memorial cherry tree planted by Irish CND in 1980. Ms Kotoha Itakura, Political Attachée at the Japanese Embassy in Ireland, and Cllr Claire Byrne, representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin, will speak at the ceremony, as will the President of Irish CND, Canon Patrick Comerford. There will be short contributions of poetry and music from Irish and Japanese artists (weather permitting) and the laying of a wreath at the memorial tree. Representatives of several other embassies will also be in attendance.
This annual ceremony gives us all an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the victims of these horrific weapons of mass destruction, and to affirm our determination to work for their elimination, the only way to ensure that the ghastly events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will not be repeated. Please do come and attend this moving and inspiring ceremony if you can.
On Sunday 5th August, the Galway Hiroshima Peace Event will take place in Eyre Square from 1.00 p.m. The event will include music, dance and an address by Frank Keoghan of the People's Movement.
On Sunday 5th August, the Galway Hiroshima Peace Event will take place in Eyre Square from 1.00 p.m. The event will include music, dance and an address by Frank Keoghan of the People's Movement.
