Taoiseach and Northern Ireland Secretary attend Enniskillen commemoration

The Taoiseach and Northern Ireland Secretary have laid wreaths during the Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Enniskillen.

Micheál Martin accompanied Sir Chris Bryant at the solemn event where hundreds gathered to pay their respects in the Co Fermanagh town which had been struck by a fatal IRA bombing almost 40 years ago.

Eleven people who had gathered to pay their respects to the war dead were killed and dozens injured in the no-warning blast on November 8 1987, minutes before the Remembrance Sunday ceremony was due to start.

A 12th victim of the Poppy Day bombing died 13 years later having never woken from a coma.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin lays a wreath (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Sir Chris laid a a poppy wreath on behalf of the UK Government while Mr Martin placed a laurel wreath at the memorial.

Mr Martin’s contribution was a continuation of a tradition begun by former taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2012 by attending and placing a laurel wreath at the base of the memorial.

The 2012 move move was seen as symbolic of greater recognition afforded in the Republic of Ireland to Irishmen who fought and died serving in the British Army in the First World War.

In 2024, then-taoiseach and current Tánaiste Simon Harris did not attend the Enniskillen memorial citing the absence of a representative from the Northern Ireland Executive for the decision.

His Fine Gael party was represented by then-minister Heather Humphreys who was not seeking re-election in the campaign that had been running at the time.

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant (Liam McBurney/PA)

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A range of other events to pay tribute to the war dead took place across Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Stormont’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill, of Sinn Féin, is not attending remembrance events in an official capacity event amid the fallout from the Drumcree parade dispute.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, of the DUP, has stopped joint engagements with Ms O’Neill and – under powersharing conventions – is also blocking the First Minister from attending engagements in an official capacity on her own.

A spokesperson for Sinn Féin said: “Remembrance and commemoration is a very sensitive issue and should be above party politics.

“The DUPs decision to block Michelle O’ Neill’s attendance politicises the Remembrance ceremony and is deeply regrettable.

“The DUP need to explain why they blocked an opportunity to build understanding and advance reconciliation.”

On Sunday afternoon, Irish President Catherine Connolly is to lay a wreath in remembrance of all those who have died in war at the National Service of Remembrance at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.

It will be her first time to do so since taking office at the end of last year.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is also expected to attend the Dublin service.