President honours servicemen and women at Cork army barracks

THE Tricolour flew at half-mast over Collins Barracks this afternoon, billowing in the breeze as President Michael D Higgins laid a wreath in honour of all Irish men and women who died in past wars or in service with the United Nations.

It was the first time that the main ceremony of the National Day of Commemoration had been held in Cork, and the President joined Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other dignitaries in a solemn display of remembrance for fallen members of the army, navy, and air corps.

The decision to hold the ceremony in Collins Barracks this year was taken, the Taoiseach said afterwards, to acknowledge Cork’s proud military history.

Mr Varadkar added that the National Day of Commemoration had an added poignance this year because it came after the death of Private Seán Rooney in Lebanon.

“It does remind us that this isn’t just about the past; it’s also about the present, that Irish servicemen, women, and the gardaí travel overseas in the cause of peace, in the cause of democracy, in the cause of freedom, and still risk their lives, and sometimes, sadly, get injured and killed and that’s why I think it is important that we mark this every year,” he said.

There were prayers throughout the ceremony, reflecting the many faiths of modern Ireland, and a humanist reflection followed.

Imam Sheikh Hussein Halawa read verses from the Quran and asked Allah to “bless our country, Ireland, and the people of Ireland”, while Maurice Cohen read out a Jewish prayer and remembered the members of the Defence Forces who had given their lives in the line of duty.

The Catholic Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin, remembered Pte Rooney, while Fr Viorel Hurjul, representing the Greek Orthodox Church, read from the Book of Matthew.

The Rev Andrew Robinson represented the Methodist Church, while Rev Canon Dr Daniel Nuzum represented the Church of Ireland.

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Right Rev Dr Samuel Mawhinney, gave the closing Christian prayer and there was also a Hindu prayer and a Buddhist prayer.

When President Higgins laid the wreath on behalf of all the people of Ireland, a minute’s silence followed, ended by the firing of a cannon, and the Last Post was sounded.

As the national flag was raised to full mast, accompanied by a 30-second drum roll and followed by a reveille, four air corps planes flew past in formation.

The commemoration ceremony concluded with ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’.