Assembly's tribute to Queen Mother

The Queen Mother: A "great and noble" lady

People in Northern Ireland have begun signing books of condolence following the death of the Queen Mother.

A book has been opened at St Columb's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Londonderry.

Further books are to be opened at Belfast City Hall, Craigavon Civic Centre and at Hillsborough Castle on Wednesday.

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

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

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

On Monday, the Queen Mother was remembered with a 41-gun salute fired from Hillsborough Castle - her official residence in Northern Ireland.

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

The Union Flag is flying at half mast at Hillsborough Castle.

'Tenacity'

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

There was a one minute's silence at sporting fixtures on Monday.

Church of Ireland Primate Archbiship Robin Eames said the Queen Mother's 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.

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 the Army regiments she had close associations with - at Ballykinlar before attending a garden party at Hillsborough Castle, County 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 the Republic of Ireland, Irish President Mary McAleese said she offered the Royal Family and the British people her nation's sympathies.