▁project ▁to ▁deliver ▁a ▁National ▁Flag ▁to ▁all ▁primary ▁schools ▁in ▁the ▁Republic ▁of ▁Ireland ▁was ▁conducted ▁between ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁and ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁and ▁involved ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁Def ence ▁Forces ▁personnel ▁visit ing ▁ 3 , 2 0 0 ▁schools ▁and ▁present ing ▁them ▁with ▁a ▁hand made ▁National ▁Flag ▁and ▁a ▁copy ▁of ▁the ▁Pro clam ation ▁of ▁the ▁Irish ▁Republic . ▁ ▁The ▁E aster ▁R ising ▁cent en ary ▁para de ▁at ▁the ▁General ▁Post ▁Office , ▁Dublin ▁( G PO ) ▁included ▁ 2 , 8 0 0 ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Def ence ▁Forces ▁and ▁a ▁display ▁of ▁military ▁equipment , ▁vehicles ▁and ▁aircraft ▁watched ▁by ▁over ▁ 7 5 0 , 0 0 0 ▁people ▁l ining ▁the ▁streets ▁of ▁Dublin . ▁Also ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁State ▁Cent en ary ▁Program me , ▁the ▁Def ence ▁Forces ▁raised ▁the ▁National ▁Flag ▁on ▁O ' Con nell ▁Street ▁every ▁day ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁▁ 1 3 ▁par ades ▁were ▁held ▁to ▁award ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 6 ▁Cent en ary ▁Comm emor ative ▁Medal ▁to ▁all ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁Def ence ▁Forces . ▁The ▁first ▁med als ▁were ▁presented ▁by ▁President ▁of ▁Ireland , ▁Michael ▁D . ▁H igg ins ▁and ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁government ▁at ▁a ▁state ▁ceremony ▁in ▁Dublin ▁Castle ▁on ▁ 4 ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁as ▁part ▁of