Diocesan News
Enniskillen Cathedral to be centre of VE Day 80th commemoration
A special programme of events is planned for Enniskillen on 8 May for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Enniskillen’s programme of events – the most westerly location for the VE Day 80 Commemorations in the UK – balances remembrance with celebration, including a VE Day 80 Commemorative Church Service, Beacon Lighting Ceremony, Pipers’ Tribute, Beating Retreat and Concert.
On Thursday, 8 May, at 9am, Gary Wilson will be joining Town Criers and Toastmasters throughout the country to read the VE Day 80 Proclamation at The Watergate, outside Enniskillen Castle, marking the official start of the day’s commemorations. As part of the nationwide celebrations, the bells of St Macartin’s Cathedral will ring at 6.30pm, in a symbolic act of remembrance and unity. This will be followed at 7.30pm when the Inniskillings Museum and four churches on the island of Enniskillen will come together to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a Service of Peace starting in St. Macartin’s Cathedral with a spectacular parade of 80 pipers and drummers from local bands to form a community–massed band to support the service. The band will gather on Church Street, guiding the congregation to St Michael’s Church for the continuation of the service.
Lanterns will be produced, having been presented to Enniskillen’s churches in 2018, marking the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. These lanterns, in line with the official VE Day 80 promotion of ‘Lamping Lights of Peace’, will light the way from St Michael’s Church back to St Macartin’s Cathedral. There, the service will conclude with the lighting of a ceremonial beacon by Viscount Brookeborough, Lord Lieutenant for County Fermanagh. The beacon will symbolise hope as the light that emerged from the darkness of war.
On Saturday, 10 May at 3pm, the Band, Bugles, Pipes and Drums of the Royal Irish Regiment will perform a ‘Beating Retreat’ at the Cathedral Hall Car Park to include a special performance by The Erne Highland Dancers. This event is free, with an invitation extended to everyone and no tickets or pre–booking is required.
At 7pm, the VE Day 80 Commemorative Concert comprising the musicians from the Royal Irish Regiment will perform a special concert in St Macartin’s Cathedral hosted by The Royal Air Forces Association (Fermanagh Branch). It will be compered by Gary Wilson with guest soloists Lauren Kells and Clara Wilson. This event is free, with an invitation extended to everyone and no tickets or pre–booking is required.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Clogher
07708 869823
Mr Brian Donaldson
[email protected]