President Michael D Higgins has unveiled a sculpture, commissioned as part of the 1916 Centenary celebrations on the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.

Dearcán na nDaoine - The People's Acorn – contains a time capsule, which holds memories and hopes from Ireland's oldest and youngest citizens.

The artwork was created by Irish artist Rachel Joynt.

Her idea was chosen by a jury, following proposals from several different artists and is brass structure, covered with pencils, donated by Irish students.

President Higgins and his wife Sabina were joined by 170 students from seven different schools around Ireland for the unveiling.

Each child contributed their thoughts and wishes for Irish children of the future, along with older people, who contributed their thoughts and memories for inclusion in the capsule.

Speaking at the launch, President Higgins acknowledged the contributions of the late Elizabeth O'Carroll, who chaired the Bealtaine Group, which contributed poems to the capsule.

As well as recalling the past, the President also said the idea of the project was to convey the fact that the vision of 1916 was yet to be achieved.

"While the vision for the future of those we recall and honour today was set out in the Proclamation, it can, I think, only be viewed in retrospect as a challenge to succeeding generations.

"An ideal that was yet to be achieved.

"It was such thoughts and reflections that drove Sabina and I to set down a challenge of our own to artists".

The capsule is due to be opened 100 years from now.