Simon Harris TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (18 June 2015) welcomed the official opening the 'Wellington Exhibition' in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre to commemorate the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo.

The exhibition, in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, covers the time line from the Duke's birth in 1769, his education, parliamentary career, his time as Chief Secretary to Ireland, his military career concluding with his State funeral in 1852. There are cartoons of the day covering his participation in Catholic Emancipation and other artefacts relating to Waterloo. John McMahon, Commissioner, OPW, officiated at the event in the Park, which was part of the day-long commemorative events to mark the famous battle.

Speaking ahead of the official opening this morning, Minister Harris said: "I am delighted that my Office, the Office of Public Works, has developed this exhibition on the life and times of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington here in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. The Park, steeped in Irish and Wellington historical connections together with this exhibition, offers such a unique insight into the extraordinary achievements of the man known simply as 'Wellington'."

The exhibition will feature original artefacts such as a soldier's uniform from the 1830s, a Waterloo Officer's Skako and a selection of caricatures depicting Wellington. The exhibition will be in the Visitor Centre until 30 June and other commemorative events organised by the OPW in the Visitor Centre include a lecture by Dr. Gerald Morgan of Trinity College Dublin entitled "Wellington, Waterloo and Ireland" on 20 June and a 'Battle of Waterloo' re-enactment featuring costumed soldiers drilling and marching on 28 June. A plaque was also unveiled in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on 25 May to honour Sergeant James Graham described by the Duke of Wellington as 'The bravest of the brave', following his actions in closing the gates at Hougoumont Farm at the Battle of Waterloo.

The Minister concluded: "The famous Wellington Testimonial in the Park, surprisingly once described as 'ungainly and ungraceful', has four bronze reliefs showing the Duke's military victories, services to civil and religious liberty and a tribute by his brother, Richard, the Marquis of Wellesley. This new exhibition will, no doubt, add to the great interest of historians and visitors to the Park and Dublin of one of its most famous residents".

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Images from the event are available from www.maxwellphotography.ie

Images from the exhibition will be available from opwpressoffice@opw.ie

For further information or if you wish to interview Minister Harris please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer – mobile 087 947 5552 or email colette.davis@opw.ie

Follow OPW @opwireland

Notes to Editors:

Events commemorating the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo:

Wellington Exhibition will be in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre until 30 June 2015. Full details are available on www.phoenixpark.ie

Lecture: Dr. Gerald Morgan, TCD will give a lecture entitled "Wellington, Waterloo and Ireland" on 20 June 2015.

Battle of Waterloo re-enactment will take place on Sunday 28 June 2015.