Enniskillen is `like a wake without the people'

A sombre Enniskillen stood silent on Saturday to remember Diana, Princess of Wales, who had shared the town's grief almost 10…

A sombre Enniskillen stood silent on Saturday to remember Diana, Princess of Wales, who had shared the town's grief almost 10 years ago when 11 people died in an IRA bomb attack. There were also many thoughts for Mother Teresa.

The streets were deserted, shops and businesses closed. "Like a wake without the people," was how one man described it.

The Royal British Legion held a short service for Diana at the War Memorial, where work is still taking place after the 1987 bomb attack. Mr Frank Day, president of the legion, said: "It is most poignant because to me she was just a wonderful lady. She had done so much for charities. I am very upset about it. I have shed more tears in the last week. I will today, of course, more than ever.

"The Royal British Legion appreciates everything she has done for us. She came here in particular after the bomb in 1987. She visited people in hospital and that's her in a nutshell to me," said Mr Day.

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He was very impressed by the conduct of Princes William and Harry.

"I was very impressed with the whole royal family and they are two wonderful children. I think Prince Charles made a lot of friends yesterday too, including me."

The British Legion then joined the chairman of Fermanagh District Council and Enniskillen Chamber of Commerce in the People's Park at the Peace Cairn, which was created by children from both sections of the community and completed by Princess Diana during her last visit to Enniskillen in 1993.

Draped with hundreds of flowers, the cairn was barely visible on Saturday. Many of the bouquets came with messages and poems. One ended: "Wales has lost a princess and Heaven has gained a queen." Another had a queen of hearts playing card taped to the bouquet.

Council chairman, Mr Patrick McCaffrey, said: "It was a terrible tragedy. She was a marvellous lady. She had done so much for so many good causes. She brought hope to so many people. Where there was poverty, she was there. Where there was famine, she was there. At times of grief, she was here in Enniskillen. She was a marvellous lady. She is irreplaceable.

"Enniskillen is like a wake with no one attending. There is no one about the streets. All the businesses are closed down. It is a very sombre place. People are glued, I am sure, to their televisions and they are there in spirit.

"It is particularly poignant in Enniskillen because of the bomb. She visited here twice and she kept in contact with some people, particularly Joan Wilson who has had a number of personal tragedies. She lost her daughter, Marie Wilson, in the bomb, the death of her son in a traffic accident and the untimely and unexpected death of her husband, Senator Gordon Wilson," said Mr McCaffrey.

Mr McCaffrey said many people were also very saddened by the death of Mother Teresa.

"What struck me was she died of a broken heart. I understand that they were both very close, one this frail elderly lady who had done so much and the princess with so much other work still to do. It is a sad day for the world."

Mrs Jenny McCrea of Enniskillen Chamber of Commerce said: "I think we are all devastated here in Enniskillen because she meant so much to us, especially visiting us a few times, particularly after the bomb on Remembrance Day.

"I think the people of Enniskillen are very united from all sides of the division. Everyone is united in grief because she was such a wonderful person. There were no divisions in her life. She regarded everyone the same."

Sixteen-year-old German tourist, Ms Kim Kirchmer, said she was shocked when she heard Diana had died. "Everywhere people were shocked and it is really a tragedy. People in Germany are also quite shocked about it."

Mr Terry McCartney, owner of the Belmore Court Motel, said: "I am very sad. It is a sad day all over. She will be missed by everybody and I mean everybody. Unfortunately, you only miss things when they are gone and today is a true example of that.

"She had a very close connection with Enniskillen. It's very sad."