Bermuda’s Irish residents are to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule in Ireland with a special gala dinner.

The event will also commemorate the Irish contribution at the start of the Battle of the Somme at about the same time, which claimed the lives of 3500 Irish soldiers, many of them from the 36th Ulster Division.

Six of the nine Ulster counties later formed the pro-British statelet of Northern Ireland after 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland became Saorstát Éireann — the Irish Free State — in 1922. Brian Quinn, the president of the Bermuda Irish Association, said: “It should be a great night. It’s a special year — it’s the 100th anniversary of 1916, but we’re not celebrating that. It’s a commemoration and we’re also remembering the 3500 Irishmen who died at the Battle of the Somme around the same time.

“It’s a very happy Irish community in Bermuda and both sides will be represented at the event. We’re very inclusive — it’s about people from both sides of the border in Ireland and the wider Bermuda community.”

Both the tricolour of the Republic of Ireland and the Red Hand of Ulster flag used by Northern Ireland will be displayed.

Mr Quinn, who runs Granite Management in Hamilton, added: “We’re also encouraging members of the Bermuda community to come out for a great night of Irish culture and entertainment.”

The black tie dinner, to be held at the Hamilton Princess on Saturday, April 9, will feature American-based Irish band Sproai from Chicago and an Irish dance troupe, three of whom were cast members of the hit touring show Lord of the Dance.

The guest speaker will be Irish journalist and broadcaster George Hook, who will cover the 1916 rising in the Irish capital Dublin, the formation of the Irish Free State and Ireland’s modern status as the Republic of Ireland, as well as the closer relations between Britain and Ireland in recent years.

The Bermuda Irish Association, which has around 300 members, has donated between up to $30,000 to island charities in its three years of existence.

Mr Quinn said proceeds from next month’s dinner would go to the Eliza DoLittle Society, which runs food programmes for the needy.

He added: “There are tickets still available, although it’s getting close to being a sell-out.”

Tickets for the dinner, which starts with cocktails at 7pm, cost $150 each and $2500 for a corporate table to seat 10.

To buy tickets, contact Mr Quinn at bquinn@grantie.bm or veale.michael@gmail.com.