Remembrance acts mark sacrifices

Acts of Remembrance have been held across Northern Ireland, 90 years after the end of the First World War.

In Belfast, the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph was led by the High Sheriff, Councillor Margaret McKenzie.

Up to 1,000 people were in the grounds of the City Hall for the ceremony, which included a fly-past by three helicopters.

A two-minute silence was held at 1100 GMT to remember those who died serving their country.

Londonderry's main remembrance ceremony took place at the war memorial in the Diamond.

BELFAST CENOTAPH

In pictures: Belfast remembrance

Ceremonies were also held in Newry, Lisburn, Armagh, Coleraine, Ballymena and Ballymoney as well as other towns across Northern Ireland.

The Queen led tributes at the annual service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in central London.

This year that march included ex-servicemen and women from Northern Ireland for the first time.

The Somme Heritage Centre in Newtownards, County Down, has been hosting a weekend of activities to highlight the role in the allied victory played by more than 200,000 Irish soldiers.

The centre's director, Carol Walker, said for a long time the people of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic had had differing attitudes towards remembering the war.

"Certainly in the south of Ireland for a long time it was memories that were put away - maybe hidden in a shoebox and put under the bed or up in the roof space.

"But differently in the north, particularly amongst the Protestant community, it would've been remembered more."

This was now changing, she added.

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