Across NI, thousands gather to remember and honour the fallen
Tanaiste Simon Coveney amongst politicians and veterans at Belfast service
BELFAST fell silent on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War as the military, politicians, veterans and the public gathered to pay their respects to the fallen.
It was the largest memorial service held in Northern Ireland on the centenary of the Armistice yesterday.
Blue skies broke as the Union flag was lowered and the Last Post was played while crowds stood in the grounds of City Hall. More people stood in the street as the venue was full to capacity.
The Band of the Royal Irish Regiment, which included pipers, drummers and a brass section, was led by Band Master Richard Douglas. Military songs were played as well as the traditional hymn Abide With Me, sung often in the trenches during the war.
In a poignant and emotional hour-long ceremony, wreaths were laid by service personnel as well as by representatives from governments from around the world.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley laid a wreath on behalf of the British Government, while the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tanaiste Simon Coveney laid a green wreath for the Republic.
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev Dr Charles McMullen, led prayers and asked for care to be given to ex-servicemen and women.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Deirdre Hargey, did not attend the service. Sinn Fein stated last week that no representatives from the party would be taking part in remembrance events that “celebrate or attempt to legitimise British imperialism”.
The SDLP’s Claire Hanna as well as former party leader Alasdair McDonnell, who made a plea for Northern Ireland to ‘depoliticise’ the tragedy of the war, were two prominent nationalists at yesterday’s service.
Alliance leader Naomi Long, DUP MLA Christopher Stalford and the UUP’s Lord Empey paid their respects too.
Mrs Bradley spoke with cadets before making her way to St Anne’s Cathedral for an afternoon service.
“It was absolutely beautiful, a very poignant service,” she said.
“It was really wonderful to be there and to share the memories and thoughts of so many.”
Mrs Bradley and Mr Coveney have been working closely in efforts to get an Executive sitting in Stormont again.
The Secretary of State said yesterday was a signal of how far the relationship between the two governments has come.
She added: “I think the fact that in 2016 when we commemorated the Somme, it was an opportunity for the UK and Irish governments to recognise the sacrifices of both our countries in 1916.”
Mr Coveney said he was honoured to be in Belfast on behalf of his government.
“This is a shared history that we all have and it’s important that 100 years later we are commemorating together with the respect that’s due,” he said. “I really wanted to be in Belfast today. I could’ve been in Dublin or Cork, Paris or London. I wanted to be here to give a signal from the Irish Government that this is something that we share with communities in Northern Ireland as well as Ireland. Where families are respecting loved ones that never returned.
“In some ways in Ireland, many families didn’t get to mourn or honour loved ones that were lost in the First World War because of the politics of Ireland at the time. It was a double tragedy in many ways. Hopefully the relationships are mature enough now to tell the truth in terms of history and to focus on the human tragedy that so many families on this island suffered as a result of World War One.”
Mr McDonnell said it was important for him on a personal level to be at Armistice Day commemorations and he welcomed Mr Coveney’s decision to attend.
“It’s particularly important to be here on the 100th anniversary,” he said. “This was a very, very poignant occasion and I’m absolutely delighted that the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs took the time to be here.
“It puts the occasion in the context of remembering all of the dead of the First World War.”
Similar services were held cross the UK and Europe in what is also the 100th year of the RAF.