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Taoiseach lays wreath at Remembrance Sunday ceremony

Taoiseach Micheál Martin laid a wreath during a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen
Taoiseach Micheál Martin laid a wreath during a Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has laid a laurel wreath at the war memorial in Enniskillen as part of Remembrance Sunday events taking place across the UK.

The ceremony in the Co Fermanagh town also remembers the 12 people killed in an IRA bomb attack on the Remembrance event there in 1987.

Mr Martin stood alongside Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn as a two-minute silence was observed at 11am.

In Belfast, Sinn Féin deputy leader and Stormont's First Minister Michelle O’Neill laid a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph for the second successive year.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and Taoiseach Micheal Martin attend Remembrance service in Enniskillen
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Jayne Brady attended the remembrance service in Enniskillen

In a poster on X, she said that as First Minister it was her responsibility "to acknowledge and show respect for all traditions and perspectives in our society".

She was joined by Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly, who also laid a wreath.

The DUP politician has said she had to decline an invitation to attend the inauguration of president-elect Catherine Connolly on Tuesday because of prior arrangements to attend Remembrance Day events.

Michelle O'Neill lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday service at Belfast City Hall
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill laid a wreath at Belfast City Hall

King Charles leads Britain's commemorations

Meanwhile, Britain's King Charles led the commemorations in the UK, honouring those who have died in conflict, at a ceremony attended by thousands of veterans.

King Charles took centre stage and laid the first wreath at the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to the First World War, and was followed by the Prince of Wales.

The King, wearing Field Marshal uniform with a ceremonial frock coat, saluted before stepping back from the monument after leading a two-minute silence at the annual Remembrance Sunday service in London.

His son, dressed in Royal Air Force uniform in the rank of Wing Commander, also saluted after laying his wreath at the Cenotaph.

King Charles lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London
King Charles laid a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London

Prince William, who in 2013 completed seven and a half years of full-time operational military service, promotes the roles and welfare of current and former service personnel as a key part of his work.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also laid a floral tribute, along with senior politicians including Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey, Yvette Cooper, Shabana Mahmood and Lindsay Hoyle and representatives from the Commonwealth.

The Princess of Wales Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla, both dressed in black, and other members of the royal family viewed the Remembrance Sunday service from a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London overlooking the Cenotaph.