A weekend of commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising is taking place in Ireland, including a series of wreath laying ceremonies.

The events began at midday on Saturday with President Michael D Higgins laying a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square in central Dublin to mark the sacrifices of patriot dead.

Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny also attended with the ceremony brought to an end by a minute's silence, the playing of the Last Post and Ireland's national anthem Amhran na bhFiann and the hoisting of the Irish Tricolour.

It is one in a series of specially choreographed events taking place over the next three days to remember the rebellion, a seminal moment in Irish history which sowed the seeds for independence.

Earlier Sabina Higgins, the President's wife, laid a wreath at the grave of Countess Constance Markievicz at Glasnevin Cemetery as official Ireland strives to make the commemorations more inclusive.

Later, President Higgins is expected to meet the families of those killed during a special event in Dublin's RDS and to speak about the debt of gratitude owed to the rebels - both those immortalised in the history books, and the "unsung heroes" who took to the streets one hundred years ago.

On Easter Sunday more than a quarter of a million people will line the streets for a massive parade through Dublin city centre.

The Rising began on Easter Monday in 1916 when about 1,500 Irish nationalists seized parts of the centre of Dublin, including the General Post Office, and declared an independent Republic.

British soldiers were dispatched and six days of violence followed with some 1,350 people were killed or injured.

The British arrested 3,430 men and 79 women over the course of the rising, with 15 of the rebel leaders - including Patrick Pearse and James Connolly - executed by firing squad at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin.

Although the British subdued the uprising, the events - in particular the execution of the rebel leaders - paved the way for a war of independence and the eventual creation of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Cultural events are expected to be held in more than 200 venues across Dublin, including 500 free talks, exhibitions, debates, film, performances.

Meanwhile, the security services will be on high alert, amid fears the commemorations could be hijacked by dissident republicans.