The President-elect, Mrs Mary McAleese, was applauded by onlookers as she arrived to attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, yesterday. Neither she nor her husband, Martin, wore a poppy to the ecumenical service. On leaving the cathedral, Mrs McAleese exchanged greetings with the British ambassador, Mrs Veronica Sutherland, who read one of the lessons.
The Government was not represented, but politicians present included the leader of Democratic Left, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, and the former minister for defence, Mr Sean Barrett of Fine Gael. Senator David Norris and the deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Michael Barrett, also attended.
The prayers were led by the Rev Dr William O'Neill, minister of Howth Presbyterian Church, while the preacher was Father Gordon Beattie O.S.B. In his homily, Father Beattie invoked the deaths of Oliver Plunkett and Michael Collins, as well as remembering the dead of Derry and Enniskillen. Speaking of the first World War, he said it was supposed to be the "the war to end all wars", but had in fact been succeeded by many more, including "the tragic civil war in this country which some of you lived through, as did family of mine".
The president of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and women, Mr Peter Keenan, also read a lesson,and the organisation's standard was among those presented in the church sanctuary.
Other standards included those of the Irish guards, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Royal Ulster Rifles, the Royal Inniskillings, the Royal Air Force, the Burma Star Association, the Old Contemptibles, and branches of the British Legion in Ireland.
Poppy-wreaths were laid by diplomatic staff and ex-service organisations. Diplomats who attended included the Israeli ambassador, Mr Zvi Gabay. The French Embassy was represented by its military attache, Lt-Col Robert le Chantoux.
Mrs McAleese was greeted on arrival at St Patrick's by the dean, the Very Rev Maurice Stewart, and by the president of the Royal British Legion (Republic of Ireland branch), Mr Fergus Duff, MBE.
One of the oldest people to attend was Senator Norris's aunt, Miss Constance FitzPatrick, who is aged 100.
