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Justice Minister remembers the tens of thousands from North and South who died in the "Great War"

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has today represented the Irish Government at the annual Remembrance Sunday Ceremony at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. The ceremony was also attended by the President, Michael D Higgins, and was held by the Royal British Legion in Ireland 

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Minister Flanagan said: "It is always an honour to participate in events such as this one, where we reflect on the sad events of a hundred years ago when men and women from all parts of this island and from all traditions, left their homes to fight in the First World War. It shows the mutual respect for all traditions and helps further reconciliation on the island of Ireland and across these islands. 

As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I was privileged on several occasions to attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Belfast, where I laid wreaths. It was also my privilege earlier this year to attend the 100th Anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Messines Ridge in Flanders, where regiments from North and South fought and died together, side by side. 

Only this week, the historian Tom Burnell estimated that over 30,000 men from the 26 counties died in the First World War, with a further 17,000 from the North believed to have perished between 1914-1918. For too long in this country, we neglected this part of our history, and it is important that we acknowledge the huge event that this loss of life was on this island, even as the turmoil of the Rising and the War of Independence took place almost simultaneously. 

It is said that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it, and it is to be hoped that the relationships and links between all of the people of this island are now at the point where we mark, commemorate and celebrate all traditions with equality and fraternity. They fought and suffered together at places like the Somme, Messines and Gallipoli, and their sacrifice deserves to be remembered and marked with honour and respect."