The new PSNI Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Enniskillen on Sunday, November 12.

It was a rainy day in the town as hundreds stood in silence for two minutes to mark the occasion at the War Memorial on Belmore Street.

In attendance with the new Chief Constable were Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, representing the Republic’s government; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, representing the UK government; the US Consul General, James Applegate, representing the American government; and the Honorary Consul of Poland, Jerome Mullen, representing the Polish government.

Each laid a wreath at the memorial.

The King’s Lord Lieutenant for County Fermanagh, Viscount Brookeborough; the High Sheriff of Fermanagh, Noelle McAlinden; and the head of the NI Civil Service, Jayne Brady, also laid wreaths.

The Royal British Legion and local political representatives were also in attendance to mark the Act of Remembrance at the cenotaph.

Wreaths were laid by dignitaries from the British Army; the emergency services; representatives from the army, navy and air force; local schools; uniformed organisations, army cadets; RUC George Cross; the PSNI; the UDR Association; the RIR Association; St. John’s Ambulance and the Red Cross, to name but a few.

The gathered crowd also heard music from the Ballyreagh Silver Band.

Mr. Varadkar’s presence continued a tradition begun by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2012 by attending and placing a laurel wreath at the base of the memorial.

Mr. Kenny became the first Taoiseach to attend a Remembrance Day service in Northern Ireland when he took part in commemorations at Enniskillen in 2012, in a move seen as symbolic of greater recognition afforded in the Republic of Ireland to Irishmen who fought and died serving in the British Army in the First World War.

His attendance also marked the 25th anniversary of the IRA bombing by the memorial in 1987, at which 11 people who had gathered to pay their respects to the war dead were killed, and dozens were injured, in the no-warning blast on November 8, 1987, minutes before the Remembrance Sunday ceremony was due to start.

A 12th victim of the Poppy Day bombing died 13 years later, having never woken from a coma.

Mr. Heaton-Harris said: “It is an honour to be here in Enniskillen. We’re here to remember the fallen from World Wars one and two, from the various battles and conflicts that we’ve had, and to remember the Poppy Day bomb, as well and all the families that suffered.

“It was a lovely service, and amazing to see so many people turn out in slightly inclement weather, and just good to see the community come together.”

A parade travelled from the cenotaph through the town centre, during which the Lord Lieutenant took the salute at Enniskillen Courthouse, then continued on to the South African War Memorial, where a wreath was laid.

The Remembrance Service was held in St. Macartin’s Cathedral at 11.30am, attended by hundreds of people.

The service was conducted by Dean Kenneth Hall, assisted by Monsignor Peter O’Reilly and Army Padre Capt. Trevor Homfray-Cooper, Padre to Royal Dragoon Guards,.

The preacher was the Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Ian W. Ellis.

During Remembrance Week, representatives from The Ely Centre held Acts of Remembrance to honour civilians, officers of the RUCGC/PSNI and service personnel of HM Forces murdered during The Troubles.

On Wednesday, November 8, representatives attended an Act of Remembrance to mark the 36th anniversary of the Enniskillen Poppy Day Bomb at the Enniskillen Memorial to remember the bomb’s 12 innocent civilians.

The Patron of the Ely Centre, Jim Dixon, accompanied by his wife, Anna, and daughter, Sharon, laid flowers at the site of the bombing as a lone piper played a lament.

Following the event, Mr. Dixon said: “The anniversary and the weeks building up to it remains a deeply emotive and difficult time for us all impacted by [the] Enniskillen [bomb].

“At this time, we are brought back to the horrors of that day, as we remember those dear friends lost and the families whose lives were forever changed by the events of the day.”

On Thursday, November 9, as in previous years, representatives of the Ely Centre held Acts of Remembrance for the officers of the RUC GC/PSNI and service personnel of HM Forces murdered during The Troubles.