Ceremonies were held throughout the North yesterday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, writes Frank McNally.
Wreaths were laid at Belfast City Hall and a 7.30 a.m. service at the Somme Heritage Centre near Newtownards marked the exact time that soldiers went "over the top" on July 1st, 1916.
Over 2,000 members of the 36th Ulster Division died in the first day of the battle. No survivors were present at yesterday morning's service, but two veterans of the Ulster Division Mr James Taylor (97) and Mr Harry Curry (98) travelled to Thiepval in France for the ceremonies there.
The director of the Somme Centre, Mr Alan McFarland, said he would be contacting groups in the Republic about a commemoration to honour members of the largely Catholic 16th Irish Division, thousands of whom were killed and wounded at Guillemont and Ginchy in September, 1916.