UNVEILING AT TONE’S GRAVE

The Leinster Leader April 24 1971

Unveiling at Tone’s grave

The restored Wolfe Tone Memorial and grave will be unveiled at Bodenstown on Sunday at 3.30 p.m. by Mr. Maurice Twomey, an old I.R.A. veteran. This will be followed by a rededication ceremony performed by Venerable Archdeacon B. L. Handy, Clane.
All Republican organisations will be represented and a large contingent from Belfast is expected. Among the attendance will be a great-great granddaughter of Tone, Mrs. Dickason who is travelling from America for this restoration by the National Graves Association. The I.T.G.W.U. Band will be present from 2 p.m. and assembly will begin at 3 p.m. Stewarding will be in the hands of the kildare, Laois and Tipperary branches of the N.G.A.
The estimated cost of the reconstruction work is £5,000 and architect is Mr. Hugo Duffy (Peppard and Duffy, Dublin), who was associated with the late Mr. Lorcan Leonard, architect of the 1916 memorial in Glasnevin Cemetery. The monument, which will replace one blown up in October 1969, is fifty feet by thirty feet and includes a tomb of Irish limestone, and overlooking it on the church walls, a bronze plaque with a silhouette image of Tone and a long quotation from Padraig Pearse from a tribute paid by him to Tone in 1915.
The first sod of the reconstruction work was turned in February by Mr. Charles Wood, Vice-Chairman, N.G.A. The first memorial to Tone was erected by Kildare G.A.A. Board around 1898.
A meeting of County Kildare N.G.A. Branch in Naas on Tuesday night, attended by Mr. Sean Fitzpatrick, National Secretary, and Mr. Eamonn Griffin, Dublin Branch, made final arrangements for the ceremonies. It was unanimously decided to invite Comdt. General Tom Maguire, a member of the original Dail Eireann, as special guest of the Branch. Members were requested to report to the Churchyard at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday to act as stewards.
The ceremonies will conclude with the playing of the French and Irish national anthems.

A report from the Leinster Leader of 24 April 1971 on the unveiling of a restored monument to Wolfe Tone, at Bodenstown