National Day of Commemoration:THE IRISH men and women who died in past wars and on duty with the United Nations were remembered in a National Day of Commemoration ceremony at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, yesterday.
The ceremony was attended by President Mary McAleese who laid a wreath at a commemorative plaque at the request of Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Hundreds of people sat in the warm morning sunshine in the quadrangle to watch the event, including members of Government and the Council of State, diplomats, judges, and relatives of members of the Defence Forces who died while on duty. Relatives of the leaders of the 1916 Rising also attended the ceremony, as did members of ex-servicemen’s organisations.
Tributes were paid to the late mezzo-soprano Bernadette Greevy who died last September. She had performed at the ceremony for more than 20 years, the Rev Donald Ker, president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, told the gathering.
The bands of the 1st Southern and 4th Western Brigades performed Oft in the Stilly Night in memory of the singer who had performed the song at the event last year.
The Rev Ker was one of seven representatives of different faiths who took part in a multi-faith service.
The Taoiseach said “it is fitting that we remember here today all those Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations”.
Cantor Alwyn Shulman represented the Jewish community and prayed for the millions of people who were suffering from war, disease, poverty, hunger and natural disasters.
He also read an extract from Kil Nidre, a traditional Jewish melody.
He was followed with prayers from the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin; the Rev Denis Campbell of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; Dr John Neill, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin; Rev Thomas Flanagan of the Coptic Orthodox Church; the Rev Donald Ker and Imam Sheikh Hussein Halawa of the Islamic Cultural Centre.
Music interludes were also provided by the Whitehall Parish Choir with soloist Annette Griffin.
A minute’s silence was observed after the President laid a wreath on behalf of the Irish people. The Last Post was sounded by the trumpeters and drummers, and the Tricolour was hoisted to full mast.
As the crowd joined in to sing the national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann, there was a fly-past by members of the Air Corps.
Oireachtas members who attended the event included Tánaiste Mary Coughlan, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Pat Moylan and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
Members of the judiciary included the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray; President of the High Court Mr Justice Richard Johnson and Supreme Court judge Mrs Justice Susan Denham.
Also in attendance were the Governor of the Central Bank, John Hurley; IFA president Pádraig Walshe and several senior civil servants.