Scaled back Armistice Day events in NI to remember the fallen

Armistice Day was commemorated across Northern Ireland on Wednesday but on a much smaller scale than normal due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
By Mark Rainey
Published 11th Nov 2020, 14:49 BST
Updated 11th Nov 2020, 17:21 BST
A buglar plays The Last Post at the main cenotaph in the grounds of Belfast City Hall during Wednesday’s Armistice Day wreath-laying service: Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.A buglar plays The Last Post at the main cenotaph in the grounds of Belfast City Hall during Wednesday’s Armistice Day wreath-laying service: Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
A buglar plays The Last Post at the main cenotaph in the grounds of Belfast City Hall during Wednesday’s Armistice Day wreath-laying service: Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the traditional silence was observed and wreaths laid at low-key events centred on the province’s cenotaphs and other war memorials.

Belfast Lord Mayor Frank McCoubrey, along with the city council’s chief executive Suzanne Wylie, led the small delegation of elected representatives and military veterans at the city’s main cenotaph.

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Wreaths were laid as members of the public looked on from outside the perimeter railings.

At exactly 11am, a poppy wreath was also placed at the granite memorial to the fallen of the two World Wars, situated inside the Northern Ireland War Memorial building in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

At Stormont, normal business was suspended for a short time as Assembly speaker, Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey, led MLAs from all the main political parties in observing a silence for all those who lost their lives in war.

The act of remembrance was broadcast live at niassembly.tv.

As the MLAs began to leave the chamber, Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken can be seen thanking Sinn Fein’s Declan Kearney for taking part.

The President of the Royal British Legion Major Philip Morrison MBE, Lord Mayor of Belfast Alderman Frank McCoubrey and The Chief Executive Belfast City Council Mrs Suzanne Wylie at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance at City Hall. Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.The President of the Royal British Legion Major Philip Morrison MBE, Lord Mayor of Belfast Alderman Frank McCoubrey and The Chief Executive Belfast City Council Mrs Suzanne Wylie at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance at City Hall. Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
The President of the Royal British Legion Major Philip Morrison MBE, Lord Mayor of Belfast Alderman Frank McCoubrey and The Chief Executive Belfast City Council Mrs Suzanne Wylie at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance at City Hall. Photo: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
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Mr Aiken also tweeted his appreciation to Sinn Fein MLAs John O’Dowd and Alex Maskey for attending.

At the Schomberg House headquarters of the Orange Institution in Belfast, fewer than 15 brethren gathered to pay their respects to the fallen this year in line with the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Although the traditional parade, which is organised in partnership with the Thiepval Memorial Lodge LOL1916, was cancelled, a delegation led by the deputy grand master Harold Henning laid a wreath in the institution’s Memorial Garden.

Police officers killed during the Troubles were also remembered yesterday by the PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Frank McCoubrey, at Belfast City Hall Armistice Day commemoration . Picture: Stephen Davison/PacemakerLord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Frank McCoubrey, at Belfast City Hall Armistice Day commemoration . Picture: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Frank McCoubrey, at Belfast City Hall Armistice Day commemoration . Picture: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker
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A picture posted on Twitter shows Mr Bryne saluting the list of fallen officers at the RUC GC memorial garden at Brooklyn police headquarters in east Belfast.

He added the message: “Today on the 11th hour of the 11th day we reflect and remember the sacrifice of our honoured dead. #WeWillRememberThem.”

In Dublin’s Glasnevin cemetery, the chairman of the Royal British Legion’s Republic of Ireland branch, Brian Duffy, laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cross.

Related topics:BelfastSteve AikenMLAsJohn O'DowdSimon Byrne