President Higgins hosts families of Troubles victims at Áras an Uachtaráin

President Michael D. Higgins hosted a reception at Áras an Uachtaráin, on Thursday, March 6, to welcome members of the South-East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), as well as victims and family members of those killed during the Troubles.

Attendees included family members of assassinated Gardaí, as well as the families of UK police forces, the Irish army, and of civilians killed during the Troubles

The President gave a speech to remember those murdered, and to acknowledge and give appropriate commemoration to the losses of all those concerned by the killings that took place during the conflict.

"County Fermanagh was witness to one of the most appalling acts of violence during the Northern Ireland conflict, the Enniskillen bombing on Remembrance Sunday, 8th November 1987," said Higgins. "The explosion, which occurred during a ceremony honouring war veterans at the town’s cenotaph, claimed the lives of 11 civilians and injured scores more."

The President noted the tragedy "became a catalyst for change," as it helped bring together the Catholic and Protestant communities "to prevent such atrocities from occurring again."

However, he recognised there is "so much a distance to go" in "fostering peace and understanding." He also highlighted  "the importance of integrated education" to "deal with the origins and consequences of violence."

A memorial quilt created through SEFF, titled Terrorism Knows No Borders, was in display during the event. The quilt contained patches representing the victims of the conflict, with new patches added recently to represent members of law enforcement agencies. Information on each quilt can be accessed through the organisation's website.

Higgins commended Terrorism Knows No Borders as a "crucial medium" for "individuals and groups to give their own accounts of events from the past, painful as they may be, thereby becoming important agents of change in improving awareness and understanding."

The President also thanked SEFF for their "role in helping the large number of individuals who have had inflicted on them deeply traumatic experiences," and for having expanded their scope to the Republic of Ireland in the last 8 years, "thus ensuring all-island access to support services."