Ireland honours its war dead

IRELAND’S war dead were remembered amid prayers for peace, justice and strong political leadership during the annual National Day of Commemoration service yesterday.

Relatives and comrades of fallen soldiers and civilian victims of conflict joined with President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and 1,200 other guests at the multi-denominational religious and military ceremony in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin.

Mrs McAleese laid a wreath at the permanent plaque erected in the courtyard which honours all the Irish who have died in past wars or on service with the United Nations and a minute’s silence was observed before a ceremonial raising of the tricolour from half mast.