Several thousand people, Protestant and Catholic, crowded into the streets of Armagh to stand shoulder to shoulder in a massive outpouring of sympathy with the people of Omagh.
The 15-minute period of reflection and prayer was led by local clergy. Only the crying of babies interrupted the one-minute silence at 3.10 p.m. on Saturday. The end of the vigil was signalled by the bells of the two cathedrals.
There were tears from old and young as the names of the 28 dead were read. People were exhorted to offer the sign of peace, a handshake, to their neighbours.