NI gun salute for Queen Mother

A gun salute took place at Hillsborough Castle

The Queen Mother has been remembered in Northern Ireland with a 41-gun salute fired from her official residence in the province, Hillsborough Castle.

Members of the public were invited to the event, which took place on Monday.

It began at 1200 GMT.

She was a woman whose sense of duty was to carry her through some of the most important chapters in the life of this nation

Dr Robin Eames
Church of Ireland Primate

A gun was fired once every minute from noon in memory of the Queen Mother, who died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday.

On Wednesday, a book of condolence will also be opened at the castle, where the Union flag flies at half mast, to allow members of the public in Northern Ireland to pay their respects.

Books of condolence will also be opened at St Columb's Cathedral in Londonderry, Belfast City Hall and Craigavon Civic Centre.

The Northern Ireland Assembly will be recalled on Thursday morning as a mark of respect to the Queen Mother.

Leaders of the various political parties have been given 10 minutes each to pay tribute to her.

'Tenacity'

The 101-year-old stalwart of the British monarchy was remembered at church services across Northern Ireland on Easter Sunday.

Church of Ireland Primate Dr Robin Eames said her Christian faith was an important part of her life.

"She was a woman whose sense of duty was to carry her through some of the most important chapters in the life of this nation.

"A woman for whom duty and love and family and service were very sacred things," he said.

The Reverend Harold Good, the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, said she epitomised the bravery of the British people in the face of the German Blitz during World War II.

"This same tenacity was seen in her advancing years when she refused to conform to the image of a very senior citizen," he said.

Touched hearts

The Queen Mother paid 14 visits to Northern Ireland between 1924 and her death.

Her last was on June 29, 1990 where she visited the Black Watch - one of her Army regiments - at Ballykinlar before attending a garden party at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down.

John Reid: Queen Mother had "special fondness" for province

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said the Queen Mother had "touched the hearts of generations of men and women" in the province.

He added: "I know that the Queen Mother had a special fondness for this part of the United Kingdom.

"That was reciprocated by the deep affection of so many in Northern Ireland for her gentleness and warmth."

Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers expressed their sympathy and sadness at the Queen Mother's death.

In a joint statement, David Trimble and Mark Durkan said there would be a "deep sense of loss" by people in the province at her death.

"In a remarkable life, spanning over 101 years, she saw much change and progress while also experiencing at first hand the conflict and upheaval of two world wars.

"From her first visit in 1924 as the Duchess of York, she visited Northern Ireland often and due to the affinity felt by many people here there will be a deep sense of loss at her passing."

Ian Paisley: "Great woman"

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Ian Paisley, described the Queen Mother as a "great, noble person."

In the Republic of Ireland, Irish President Mary McAleese said she offered the Royal Family and the British people her nation's sympathies.

She said the Queen Mother was a "remarkable woman whose personality, fortitude and strength of character shone through in an extraordinary way to add her long life".

"She had many admirers in Ireland who will mourn her passing," she added.