President Michael D Higgins attended the Annual Service of Remembrance commemorating Ireland’s war dead in The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Patrick, Dublin on Sunday, 12 November, 2023.
During the service, President Higgins and Lieutenant-Colonel Ken Martin, President of the Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland District, laid wreaths at the War Memorial in the north transept, escorted by Mr Paul Stephenson, Chairman Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland.
The Annual Service of Remembrance was led by the Dean, the Very Revd William Morton, and sung by the Cathedral Choir. Lessons were read by H.E. Mr Paul Johnston, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom, and Ms Ann-Marie O’Grady, CEO, Leopardstown Park Hospital.
The exhortation was led by Mr Paul Stephenson, Chairman Royal British Legion Republic of Ireland, and was followed by the Last Post, The Silence, Reveille and the Kohima Epitaph.
The sermon was preached by The Reverend P.J. Arbuthnot, M.A., M.Litt., B.Th., Prebendary of Castleknock.
Attendance included the Deputy Lord-Mayor of Dublin, representatives of Irish Political Parties; the Ambassador of the United Kingdom; Canadian, UK and USA Defence Attachés; the Garda Commissioner; GOC 2 Brigade; GOC Air Corps; FOC NS; and representatives of Veteran Associations and Regimental Associations.
Brigadier-General Paul Pakenham (Retd) represented The Military Heritage of Ireland Trust CLG.
Featured photograph courtesy of Patrick Hugh Lynch.
