The 1916 Medal was first introduced in 1941 and was awarded to veterans of the Rising or their next of kin. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Members of the Defence Forces who serve this year are to be awarded a 1916 medal which had previously only been presented to people who participated in the Rising.

Anybody in the Permanent Defence Force and serving members of the Reserve Defence Forces are to given the medal, pictured right, "as part of the single force concept", according to the new Programme for Government.

The 1916 Medal is a bronze circular medal, fashioned in the form of a circle of flame representing the sunburst on which eight points of a star are superimposed.

On one side is a representation of the death scene of the mythical hero Cú Chulainn, partially surrounded by an ancient warrior's sword belt.

And on the other is the inscription 'Seactain Na Cásca 1916' which translates to 'Easter Week 1916'.

Its ribbon consists of two vertical panels in green and orange, while the suspension bar from which the ribbon hangs bears a Celtic interlaced design.

The 1916 Medal was first introduced in 1941 and was awarded to veterans of the Rising or their next of kin.

It's thought about 2,500 were issued.

The vast majority remain in private ownership.

The medal belonging to Seán MacDermott was sold at auction for €110,000 in 2008.

Irish Independent