It had been thought that since President Michael D. Higgins had visited the UK last year that the possibility of a royal family member attending was high.
However last night while speaking on Claire Byrne Live last night Aodhán Ó Ríordáin ( junior arts minister) confirmed that no royal would be attending.
He stated that while such an event could be monumental, it would prove to “be too much of a distraction”.
Aodhán made the point that the celebrations being held next year are “not for the British Royal Family, it’s for us and for the Irish people”.
This evening at Collins Barracks, Dublin (March 31st) the government will launch the 2016 commemorative programme, a year long celebration of the events of 1916.