Auschwitz camp entrance Photo: © Michael Fisher

Last year I wrote about the Holocaust Day service in Northern Ireland. There is also an annual service in Dublin on the nearest Sunday to January 27th. It is organised by the Holocaust Education Trust Ireland. The event honours the memory of all of the victims of the Holocaust — six million Jews as well as over five million other victims – persecuted because of their nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religious beliefs or political affiliations. The inclusion of all of the victim groups is essential to the commemoration, highlighting the importance of education about anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance.

Auschwitz memorial Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration demonstrates the Irish Government’s commitment to the Declaration of Stockholm, 2000, when the 44 signatory countries undertook to commemorate and teach about the Holocaust every year. Holocaust Education Trust Ireland advises and assists Government with organising the annual Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration.

Rail tracks at Birkenau camp Photo: © Michael Fisher

The commemoration is held in the Round Room of the Mansion House and admission is by invitation from the Holocaust Education Trust.