Minister: Armagh Service Is Not A Celebration Or Commemoration.

Thursday, 21 October 2021 09:26

By Ciara Plunkett @p

File image: President, Michael D. Higgins/RollingNews

President Higgins declined an invitation to the service.

Minister Jack Chambers is insisting a controversial religious ceremony to mark the partition of Ireland is not a celebration or commemoration.

The Junior Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney will attend the event in Armagh today.

Good morning from Armagh where later church and political leaders will gather for a service marking the centenary of the partition of Ireland and foundation of Northern Ireland.

No Michael D Higgins and no Queen Elizabeth II at an event which has caused much controversy pic.twitter.com/MXNG0tGE0b
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) October 21, 2021

President Michael D Higgins declined an invitation to the service.

Jack Chambers says if the Government is serious about promoting peace, it has to listen to different perspectives.

Sinn Fein is the only political party in the North not attending the event.

DUP Brexit Spokesperson Sammy Wilson believes they should be going.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin says the government shouldn't be sending ministers Simon Coveney and Jack Chambers

Queen bows out of Armagh centenary service on advice from doctors https://t.co/tDDuimL9UD
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) October 21, 2021

The ceremony concluded just after midday, as Political Correspondent Seán Defoe reports

NI centenary church service: Building an equal and just future on island a ‘moral imperative’ we must fulfil https://t.co/oJDoA2KXK3 pic.twitter.com/w4DqK29NG1
— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) October 21, 2021

Student Lucy Addis was one of the speakers at the event in Armagh this morning