They were at the "Mcs" in the reading of a litany of Northern Ireland dead. "Joseph McDermot, died 1974. Joseph McDermot, died 1993." A series of volunteers read for approximately three hours, the litany punctuated by those dead with the same names. Then the year of death was also given.
"Patrick McDonald, died 1974. Patrick McDonald, died 1991 . . . Patrick O'Reilly, died 1975. Patrick Anthony O'Reilly, died 1976."
Sombre tones of light and sound inside the Unitarian Church on St Stephen's Green contrasted with the brilliant brightness outside of a glorious afternoon in noisy Dublin, with only the clanging of a Luas tram passing by to distract from the sad solemnity which accompanied the naming of the dead of Northern Ireland's Troubles.
People came and went discreetly, attracted by humble notices outside inviting passers-by to join in for a few moments. Some were young people with backpacks.
"John Spence McGarry . . . Dominic McGlinchey, Mary McGlinchey, Michael McGoldrick . . . Dermot McGuinness . . . John McIvor . . . Hester McMullan . . . Ross McWhirter . . . Rita Meek . . ." And, written in marble beside the lectern, "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." Also, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." "Laurence Montgomery . . . Robert Nairac, Airey Neave . . . Patsy O'Hara . . . Thomas Paisley, Tim Parry . . ."
At noon the litany began with Anthony Abbott, a soldier from Manchester shot dead in 1976 by the IRA in north Belfast. It ended with William and Letitia Younger, a Protestant man and his daughter, who were beaten, stabbed and shot in their home at Ligoniel in 1980.