THE weather was favourable in Irvinestown on Remembrance Sunday as a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the cenotaph in the town.

Due to the pandemic, the annual parades did not go ahead, but a socially-distanced ceremony was led on Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm by Canon Paul Thompson, rector of Derryvullan North Church of Ireland, for those who wished to lay wreaths.

The Irvinestown ceremony remembers the sacrifice made by airmen who lost their lives during flying missions while based at RAF Castle Archdale.

Many of the airmen’s graves, mostly members of the Canadian Royal Air Force, are in Derryvullan North and Sacred Heart Church churchyards in the town.

A total of 15 people attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph in the churchyard of Derryvullan North.

Wreaths were laid by Deputy Lieutenant Shaun Pendry, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, and William Irvine, on behalf of the Irvinestown branch of the Royal British Legion.

Representatives of the PSNI, USC Association, Royal Irish Association and UDR Association also laid wreaths.

The Reveille and The Last Post were sounded by bugler Rachael Fyffe, and piper Jason Irvine played a lament while the wreath-layers were forming up and dispersing.

Canon Thompson led the prayers and address.

Earlier on the day, a wreath was laid by the war graves in the churchyard of Sacred Heart Church.

In the neighbouring village of Ballinamallard, the annual Remembrance Sunday parade did not take place, due to the pandemic, but both Ballinamallard Methodist Church and Magheracross Parish Church held Acts of Remembrance during their regular church services.

In Magheracross, Victor McKenzie laid one wreath on behalf of all the organisations in the parish.

Arch Deacon Brian Harper led the service, and bugler Rachael Fyffe sounded the Reveille and The Last Post.

Over at Ballinamallard Methodist Church, Reverend John Beacom led the Remembrance Sunday service.