Many of the 2,500 participants in the parade on Sunday week, 16 April, will be involved in the dress rehearsal.

While arrangements for the Easter Sunday ceremonies are still being finalised, the military parade will be strongly identified with Ireland's role in United Nations peacekeeping missions. Those involved in the parade will include defence forces personnel as well as retired military officers and members of the gardai. A group of around 150 members of the Irish UN Veterans Association will also be involved. The flags of the countries in which Irish personnel have served on UN missions will be carried by these participants.

Explaining the decision to stress the military's role with the UN in the 1916 ceremony, defence minister Willie O'Dea said, "The men and women of 1916 fought for the right of self determination for the people of Ireland. How proud they would be to see their successor generations protecting the peoples of other small nations and helping them to achieve the peace and freedom we ourselves long sought." O'Dea also confirmed that volunteers from the civil defence would not be involved in the 90th anniversary parade although he said consideration would be given to their involvement in the centenary celebrations in 2016.

The military parade will depart from Dublin Castle at around 11.30am and proceed down Dame Street past the front of Trinity College before moving along Westmoreland Street and over O'Connell Bridge to the GPO. During the ceremony at the GPO, the 1916 proclamation will be read from the viewing platform by Captain Tom Ryan of the defence forces.

Sixty military vehicles will be involved in the parade while a 'fly past' by the Air Corps is also planned.

The three-hour ceremony will be broadcast live on RTE television. The programme will be presented by Bryan Dobson from a specially built studio in the GPO, with on-air commentary from Mary Kennedy and Eoghan O Neachtain. Prior to the Easter Sunday parade, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at Kilmainham Jail.

The President, the Taoiseach and several government ministers will be involved. Later that evening, an official reception will take place in Dublin Castle.