A heartfelt rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" received warm applause from a large crowd gathered outside the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin this morning.
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The Taoiseach and the President attended
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Spontaneously, five singers began the rendition of the US national anthem as the congregation was leaving an ecumenical service in memory of those who suffered as a result of America's worst terrorist atrocity.
Some of the crowd joined them. Others were respectfully silent. A few wept.
The Taoiseach, the President and the American ambassador joined other Church and political leaders in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral for the service, presided over by Cardinal Desmond Connell as part of the National Day of Mourning.
The Pro-Cathedral on Marlbrough Street Dublin was filled to capacity with a large crowd listening to the service outside via loudspeakers outside.
Cardinal Desmond Connell opened the ceremony by saying: "We meet to express in our prayer to God our heartfelt sympathy towards all who have suffered in the brutal assault on the United States. Our prayer is a petition to the goodness and kindness of God our saviour in this moment of deep affliction".
At 11 o’clock the congregation joined the world in observing three minutes' silence. In his address, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Dr Walton Empey described Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, as a "dark day for the people of America and for millions of people throughout the world and it will remain embedded in our minds until the day we die".
He said it was important the American people know they are not alone in their grief but are supported by prayer. The attack was a "cold, calculated clinical attack that has shocked an entire nation", he said.
Dr Empey had a special message for US President Mr George W. Bush and the "terrible pressures" to be endured by holding that office.
"He may be the most powerful man in the world but let us not forget he is also a human being with all the frailties that implies".
The President prayed for those involved in the current crisis, especially those who "bear the responsibility and exercise the authority of leadership". She asked all leaders to be guided by God’s spirit so justice and mercy prevail among every peoples of every creed language and race.
Mrs McAleese sought "blessing for the United Nations organisation to heal the wounds of the world and to minister to human need so all forms of strife maybe removed and peace and comfort will be secured among the nations of the world".
US Ambassador Mr Richard Egan, who attended with his wife, delivered a reading from the Prophet Isaiah.
Many leading political figures were in attendance, including the Fine Gael Leader, Mr Michael Noonan; Labour Party leader Mr Ruairi Quinn, Tánaiste Ms Harney, former taoisigh Mr Albert Reynolds and Mr Garrett Fitzgerald; and the Green Party's Mr John Gormley.
Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne attended, along with High Court president Mr Justice Morris and the Attorney General Mr Michael McDowell.
The British Ambassador, Mr Ivor Roberts, was joined by the Chinese Ambassador, Madame Zhang Xiaokang, and the Russian Ambassador, Mr Evgeny Mikhailov.
Religious services were held through out the State this morning in sympathy with the victims of the US attack. In Limerick’s St John's Cathedral, the Rev Donal Murray referred to the "tumult of thoughts and feelings" felt by those who witnessed last Tuesday’s attack.
"Our horror springs from the realisation of how precious every human life is," he said.
Bishop of Cork Cloyne and Ross the Rev Paul Colton said people were still sifting through the senselessness of an impossible jigsaw.
Speaking in St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, this morning, he said: "Our hearts go out in love and sympathy to the Clifford family here in Cork, whose name we can say only because we already know".
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