He was a rebel leader in the 1916 Rising.
Thousands turned out across the country to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, also known as the Easter Rising.
The conflict was launched by Irish republicans who wanted to end British rule in Ireland and establish an independent Irish Republic.
The rising took place during when the UK was taking part in the First World War and rebel leader Padraig Pearse was executed afterwards.
A wreath in honour of the rebel leaders was laid in the cemetery where 14 of them are buried.
President Michael D Higgins led the annual inter-faith commemorations at Arbour Hill in Dublin.
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin spoke at the religious service in the Church of the Sacred Heart.
He urged people to seize the ideals of the Proclamation.
It was a document issued by the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army during the Easter Rising in Ireland.
Patrick Pearse read it in one of Dublin's main streets and it marked the beginning of the Rising.
The Archbishop of Dublin said: "As Irish men and Irish women we are called still today never to betray the ideals which inspired these who took part in the 1916 Rising or to let those ideals be betrayed or watered down through our cynicism or mediocrity."
He also read from notes taken by Fr Columbus Murphy, a priest, who met rebel leader Padraig Pearse before his execution.
He read: "(Pearse) was seated with his head bowed down, sunk deep into his arms resting on a little table... Disturbed by the noise of my entry he slowly raised his head... Then recognizing the (religious) habit in which I was garbed he got up, stretching out his hand and said 'Oh Father, the loss of life, the destruction, but please God it will not be in vain'".
Archbishop Martin said that Pearse's words are a challenge to every generation of Irish people.
He went on: "As Irish men and Irish women we are called still today never to betray the ideals which inspired these who took part in the 1916 Rising or to let those ideals be betrayed or watered down through our cynicism or mediocrity."
Adding: "We owe it to those leaders never to allow ourselves to resort to revenge and hatred.
"They fought for peace and reconciliation and justice in our country and for all who belong here or who come to our shores."
In Dublin thousands took to the streets for the Reclaim 1916 parade, and in Belfast several hundred dissident republicans marched through deserted streets in the city centre and a number of loyalists held counter demonstrators and protested against the parade.