The Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will make a live televised speech to the nation on the eve of the Easter Rising centenary.

The party has arranged its 2016 Ard Fheis to take place on April 22nd and 23rd - the direct anniversary of the 1916 Rising.

It means Mr Adams will make a TV address on the night before the centenary of Easter Monday, when the Rising began.

Sinn Féin had previously planned its Ard Fheis for early February, but postponed it.

This was due to the fact that if the election is called first, the speech could not be broadcast on TV in the Republic.