Clontarf service to mark death of Brian Boru

President Michael D Higgins will attend an ecumenical service in Dublin on Wednesday to mark the death of Brian Boru 1,000 years ago at the Battle of Clontarf on Good Friday, April 23rd, 1014.

Also at the midday service in St John the Baptist Church, Seafield Road, Clontarf will be Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Most Rev Michael Jackson, the Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Éamon Walsh, representing Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Danish ambassador Niels Pultz, Norwegian ambassador Ronald Names and representatives of Ireland's Defence Forces.

The theme of the service is peace and reconciliation. Representatives of all six local churches will attend as well as representatives of local business, sporting, educational, leisure and political interests. A yew tree will be planted in the church grounds to commemorate the event.

At noon today, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin will lead a Way of the Cross procession in the Phoenix Park from the Wellington monument to the papal cross. This is an annual event organised by the Catholic Movement Communion and Liberation movement.

Also at noon the 14th annual Good Friday service to remember all victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles will begin at the Unitarian Church on Dublin's St Stephen's Green.

The only religious service of its kind in Ireland, it involves the reading of the names of the more than 3,500 people who died in that conflict. Those wishing to hear the readings can drop in and out at any time between noon and 3pm.

The Alone group, which is committed to supporting older people, has asked that the public keep an eye on the elderly over this long weekend. It has pointed out that many older people will see no one until Tuesday at the earliest.

“With many local shops, amenities, health and care services for older people closing for the duration of the long weekend, older people could be left in a vulnerable position” it said.