Crossmolina native reads Proclamation at GPO

Proud Moment?Capt Rochford reads the Proclamation.


Crossmolina native reads 1916 Proclamation

Ciara Galvin

Shortly before mid-day on Easter Monday, 1916, Padraig Pearse, standing under the GPO portico, read out the Proclamation declaring Ireland a sovereign independent republic. On Easter Sunday, former Gortnor Abbey student and Crossmolina native, Eoin Rochford read out the Proclamation in front of thousands at the GPO on O’Connell St in Dublin.
The 28 year old, who joined the Irish Defence Forces as a Cadet in 2003, was assigned the duty of Proclamation reader as he works in the Irish Defence Forces human resources branch.
“I’ve been working in the HR branch since last October and when the the duties of Proclamation reader and a master of ceremonies were given they were assigned to my branch and the logistics branch, so there wasn’t really a selection process,” explained Rochford.
Speaking about the pressures of reading in front of thousands, including An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, President Michael D Higgins and for the first time in attendance, Martin McGuinness, Eoin said he approached the duty like he would approach any drill.
“Once you have to do anything it’s just a drill. I just rehearsed and rehearsed and when I started reading on Sunday it just all came together. I was slightly nervous but I was confident I rehearsed it enough.”
Since joining the Defence Forces when he was 19, the son of Carmel and Eugene Rochford has completed a degree in Health and Safety from NUI Galway, attained a Masters in Human Resources and completed a six month tour of duty with the UN in the Lebanon in 2011.
Looking on, on Sunday were Eoin’s mother Carmel and sister Leanne, who later joined him at a reception inside the GPO.
“My mother really enjoyed it as her father used to be a senator and she met a senator who knew him. It was great day and great to meet them after reading,” concluded Rochford.