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Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II waits to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph during Remembrance Sunday in Whitehall on November 11, 2012 in London.
BELFAST - Ireland's prime minister laid a wreath to honor fallen soldiers at a British Remembrance Day service for the first time on Sunday, the latest gesture of reconciliation between historic foes.
Annual Remembrance Day services to honor Britain's war dead and the wearing of the traditional poppy are controversial in Ireland because of abuses committed by soldiers in Northern Ireland and during British rule in Ireland before independence.
Enda Kenny took part in a service in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Irish Republican Army bombing of a Remembrance Day service in the town that killed 12 people, one of the worst atrocities of three decades of sectarian violence.
Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images
Former service personnel attend Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall, Central London, on November 11, 2012.
Meanwhile in London on Sunday, the Queen Elizabeth was joined by Prince Phillip and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the annual memorial service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. The Queen, whose grandson Prince Harry is currently serving as a soldier in Afghanistan, laid a wreath.
The traditional two-minute silence at 11am – timed to coincide with the armistice that ended the First World War in 1918 - was held to remember members of the British and Commonwealth's armed forces who have died during conflicts.
The same silence was observed by millions of veterans and civilians across the UK, and by British forces serving across the world - including 9,500 soldiers in Afghanistan. Many wore a poppy – the symbol of remembrance – on their lapel.
Luke Macgregor / Reuters
Britain's Prince William attends the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in London November 11, 2012.
In Enniskillen, Kenny stood, head bowed, during the silence before taking his turn to lay a wreath on the war memorial yards from the spot where the IRA bomb exploded in 1987.
His green laurel wreath laid on behalf of the Irish Government stood out among wreaths of red poppies. He did not wear a poppy.
The gesture came a year after a visit by Queen Elizabeth to Ireland, the first by the British sovereign since independence.
During the visit, the Queen laid a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin to honor those Irish men and women who died fighting for Irish freedom from British rule.
Also on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore became the first Irish minister to attend a Remembrance Day service at Belfast City Hall, laying a wreath at the city's cenotaph.
Tens of thousands of Irish soldiers fought for Britain in both world wars, but they receive relatively little recognition in Ireland, which took advantage of World War One to fight British rule and remained neutral during World War Two.
With relations with Britain the warmest for decades, the Irish government in June pardoned thousands of servicemen who deserted to fight for the Allied forces during World War Two.
During more than 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland when more than 3,600 people died, the participation of an Irish leader in a Remembrance Day ceremony would have been unthinkable.
The violence was largely ended by the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 which set up a power-sharing administration between unionists, who want to maintain Northern Ireland's position in the United Kingdom, and nationalists, who aspire to a united Ireland.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Why wouldn't the Irish want to honor their dead on Remembrance Day? Kind of a slap to those Irish families who lost loved ones in the wars, even if they were wearing a British uniform.
ag99.....it's because it's sort of like blacks who fought for the confederacy, but i am thrilled they are overcoming their fundamentalist ways. something so ingrained generationally, with legitimate horrors suffered and inflicted by both sides, takes time to heal.
Ah, and another culture is sacrificed on the alter of globalism...
Being an American of Irish, English and Scottish descent It does my heart good to see these old animosities beginning to fade
As an Irishman who lived thru he troubles,I am
very proud of of PM & our nations maturity to
allow the past to be put in history & for all of us
to get on with todays struggles as partners.
very well said indeed irish ray
i hear you irish ray and agree 100%
The Irish were the main fighters in the Civil War for the North. Just saying.
Britain is not England. It is a political conglomeration of England, Scotland, Wales, and at the moment, Northern Ireland. Its soldiers come from all these countries and peoples. The British flag is a hybrid of the flags of Scotland and older flags representing Ireland and England. Even today, it is said that the queen's favorite is the Emerald Guard and the Scottish Highland Regiments are still an important part of the British army. In fact, the first two detachments from Great Britain that were sent to Irag were the above mentioned. Paul Revere's famous warning alarmed the American resistance to an approaching army made of English, Scots, Welsh, Cornish, and Irish. So it would be appropriate for anyone in that region to give thanks to the British army veterans.
I think my Great-Grandad just rolled over in his grave! For over 600 years the british have occupied a country that does not belong to them - Ireland. They made it illegal for the Irish to be educated, speak their own language - Gaeilge, sing their folk songs, govern their own land, and they tried to stop them from practicing their own religion. If that were not enough the British passed laws such as Primae Noctis for British "Nobleman" were they would be allowed to take an Irish or Scottish bride to his bed on her wedding night. Millions of Irish people have been killed fighting for Irish Liberty and Freedom over the centuries. The British have never apologized or even admit to any wrong doing for that matter. I think it is high time that there is a day of rememberance for all Irish who sacrificed their life for their country at the hands of the British.
Movies like "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" and "Braveheart" should be shown in all American schools to remind all of us how close we came to being British and not American.
Perhaps you should not quote movies as a basis for history. Some of what you have said is true, much of it is contrivance of Hollywood. Anyway, what you speak of was conducted by ancestors, and not by these people. A person is not responsible for the actions of their ancestors.
Cry me a river! Where are your tears for the American Indian??? Their country has been occupied since 1492. This was at time when "might made right". Everybody did everybody wrong! Let it go.. The IRA terrorist should be drug out into the streets and shot like the dogs they are!
butkis, how do you know whether or not he has tears for the america indian? everytime somebody posts about something they need to make an obligatory salute to what happened to amer indians? grow up
Dan...I am Irish-born and breed and what Viva...states is Irish history not Hollywood.
Millions, really? I mean, yeah Northern Ireland wasn't a very nice place 20 years ago but it wasn't damn Stalingrad. Get a grip already.
what a looser
You want to fight ?
Step in the ring .
It saddens me to see all the lives losts and especially of young men who had all their life ahead of them killed because of any war. Surely if we call ourselves civilised why is it that our politicians worldwide can not sit down around the table to resolve conflicts does a rocket really achieves anything?
Vive la difference when nations will be able to live along each other and defence budget will no longer have a goal, but instead these funds will be used for social purposes in nations across the world. Politicians needs to be more diplomats
Squatty old b/witch. If there's a decent thing to do that is to send the millions of pound/sterling required to make Britians torture, murder and and mayhem victims in Basra (Iraq) whole again after the brutalizing of so many innocent civlians in Iraq (and now Syria) in Blairs war of aggression against Iraq.
Are you an idiot, or do you just play one in real life?
I'm of Irish Scot and Welsh heritage. It's time to put down the old hurts and move forward. We're all in this together and if we wish to survive we need to act like it. When the Queen went to Ireland last year she showed bravery and compassion. It was also a nice touch when Prince William wore the Irish Guard uniform in his wedding. I think those things were a good start.
Northern Ireland IS part of the United Kingdom (UK) but it is NOT part of Britain.
Hence the full name of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The structure of the UK is very, very confusing for most Americans who do not have familial or other interests there. This is revealed in the fact that a typical American uses British and English interchangeably, but does not realize that British is the all encompassing term for any person of the four nations.
No matter how you look at it the sentiment isn't genuine. As a third generation of Irish ancestory with Irish Dual Citizenship in what I've expereinced conversing with the Irish when staying in Ireland is they hold deep rooted disgust for the English and the Queen. Having been born and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island our town still holds an annual parade commemorating the sinking of the British schooner Gaspee along the shores of Narragansette Bay back in 1772. This event was known as "The First Blow for Freedom" and took place years before The Boston Tea Part and Lexington and Concord. To give a brief history lesson: The Gaspee was a British schooner patrol boat captained by British officer Lt Dungstington that was ordered to patrol the ports along the east coast intercepting merchant ships carrying untaxed goods the British insisted they were entitled to. In June of 1772 The Gaspee chased John Browns ship loaded with untaxed goods toward Providence but got stuck on a sand bar at high tide off Warwick. John Brown made it to Providence and alerted the locals of the chase he encountered and that The Gaspee was stuck just off the shores of Warwick, to which the locals gathered a force of men and rode back to Warwick. Heading out in row boats they overtook the crew, took them to shore and torched The Gaspee.
My point of this story is these events eventually lead up to America revolution against the oppression of British rule. Battles were won in those next few years and the colonist managed to kick the British out of America once and for all and they never dared come back at us.
Unfortunately for Ireland the Irish were never able to rid the British from their shores like we did early on and have been under British rule in Northern Ireland ever since. When I say the Irish dislike the the British it comes from a long history of taxation by The Queen of which the Irish could have done without for so many decades. Gerry Adams may have brought about Sinn Fein and gotten the IRA to disband for awhile surrendering thousands of their guns and munitions but in truth there isn't a single farm that doesn't contain a secret arsenal should the day come when the British might decide to take a little more than Northern Ireland..
Long live The Republic of Ireland!
I encourge you to go to Ireland and fight the power!! Hope you leave asap!
Richard I build guns for a living. What do you think I do every time I go over there?..
Same thing I think when I'm there. What a bunch of drunks!
Read your stuff below as well; it's nice to see you're so consistent in your hate. You hate the English of today for something done centuries ago and you hate the "Illegals" who come here for a "free lunch." Trouble is, the English alive today would never do what was done so long ago and illegal immigrants CANNOT receive all the Federal benefits you complain about.
There's a slow train comin'..
As a Brit (English actually) I love reading American Irish like you who are on the side-lines and in the safety of the US encourage terrorists like the IRA, it strikes me of just how dis-connected you really are. But since the English are so bad in your view and you seem so desperate for violence (or at least getting others to do it for you) then how about this, if the IRA commits anymore terrorist attacks then the UK should hold The Republic of Ireland responsible, furthermore they should view it as an attempt by The Republic of Ireland to endanger their national survival and respond with total war, in that they should blockade Ireland, bomb it back to the stone age and take no prisoners. Would you be fine with that? After all according to people like you the English are so evil anyway.
There is as much mixed blood in Ireland than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. I'm Welsh and both my Daughter and Son have married into Irish families. There is no such thing as pure stock anymore so get with the program and off the high horse.
If I was the Monarch or the PM, I would give the Irish their freedom and be done with them. Then build a wall to keep them out of England/Scotland. The Irish are the Mexicans of Europe!
Richard - having lived in Northern Ireland for about 11 years and my mother and sister, neice and nephew still live there, I wish you would come over during Christmastime (I'm going back then) and say in the streets what you just said! I live in California now and can tell you the irish are NOTHING like the Mexicans!
Yes please give us back Northern Ireland! Go continue being a Brit sympathizer!
One difference Richard, unlike Mexicans in this country Irish don't intentionally cross the border into England to get free health care, free state and federal food programs, free welfare benefits and qualify for low income housing at the head of the line over generations of families that have been paying taxes in this country for over 250 years..
ridiculous comparison. the US needs more irish immigrants and others with that sort of work ethic and moral code.
Richard: I have relatives in N. Ireland and they consider themselves very British. When I asked why not just be part of Ireland proper, they were offended, as if I'd asked a Canadian why don't they just join the US? It's hard to understand if you don't live it.
A great book to read about the Irish at war is Conyngham's "The Irish Brigade" to get a feeling of their great contributions to America's Civil War. Many of the leaders for both sides were Irish born and the Pat Kellys...Thomas Meaghers...Father Corbys of Ireland escaped the revolution in ireland and certain execution at the hands of the British and it was our luck that they came to America. After feeling the pride ( and wishing YOU were Irish:) of reading that bit of history you can then read "Paddy's Lament" to discover exactly why the Irish hate the British to this day. The northern Irish are descendents of Brits and Scots who forced the Irish off the land and later reveled in them starving or emmigrating. laughably the British used firing squads as a resource and the Massacre of "Bloody Sunday" is as fresh as yesterday...I have a friend who's father told her to always wear "Orange" on St Patricks Day...the hatred goes both ways
at the end of the day, ireland will be a 32 county nation and england will be an important ally. the process in place is meant to avoid an all out civil war that would rival the brutality of bosnia in the 90s. down the road all irish rebels including those of the IRA will be honored as vets. it is too soon for the queen to lay a wreath for the hunger strikers but i can promise you the best is yet to come for the heroes of the irish resistance.
As a Brit, it does my proud to know that countries who have fought against each other are paying respect to one another through past actions. Although i'm not proud to be British and would rather be an American, i still feel that what the Queen did last year and what the Irish PM has done now is the right think. Yes, i do agree Northern Ireland should be given back to main Ireland, however, i do believe it's up to the people of Northern Ireland to choose if they wish to stay in the UK or not as they are the one's living there. Every country should have the choice to make up its own mind. But none the less, i would rather live in a world where countries repair past actions and work together for the greater good. We don't want to be like Asia where we can't get along. We in Europe have fought so many wars during the past 1000 years, its time we work together to protect and help future generations from harm. Although i do think countries like Britain and America should stop marching in to other countries that don't require our help, after all, we all have our problems back home.
“Although i'm not proud to be British and would rather be an American,”
You know one is not better than the other right? They are just labels really.
Many people don't the history of the vote where Ireland was given three choices: Complete independence, a constitutional monarchy along the lines of Canada and Australia (at the time, not as they are today), or remain a part of the United Kingdom. The counties of the south, the majority, voted for independence. The counties of the north, voted to remain a part of the UK.
Easily solved then, right? Majority rule? Well, not so fast there speedy. The south vowed that if they were not granted independence, they would continue their uprising, and the Protestants of the north would definitely be targets. The north vowed that if they were made to be a part of an independent Ireland, they would kill every Catholic they could. (Keep in mind I'm paraphrasing here.)
Britain, trying to avoid bloodshed, opted for partition, which hadn't even been one of the choices. This left nobody happy, because they didn't want Ireland divided, and eventually led to significant bloodshed in the north. In hindsight, it was a bad decision, but considering the options, they all were.
A real GENTLEMAN by anybody's high standards.As an AMERICAN,I have the HIGHEST respects for this type of representation from the BELOVED BRITISH PEOPLE.GOD BLESS THE BRITISH!,OUR BLOOD KIN.
On this day, unlike to any other, it is right that we should remember those who died that we might be free!
They do not grow old as we ourselves grow old;..........................
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them!
Rest in peace!
God Bless them All
All the so called distant relations of Irish stock talk as if the Irish are a breed apart from the the rest of the British when in fact the Irish and Welsh are close blood relations with similar language and culture and the IRA as well as murdering pregnant women and children also killed Welsh in the name of freedom. It's just another story of opportunist murderous thugs taking advantage of a situation to revel in bloody glory and it happens everywhere in the world and normally aided by US funds.
I think you’ll find the IRA were aided by US funds, with the Kennedys in particular being very keen to “donate” to their cause, which from what I recall this was one of the main reasons people I knew got annoyed when Americans complained about terrorism back in the early 2000s