PM attends service marking 100 years since Ireland partition

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis today attended a church service in Armagh, Northern Ireland to mark 100 years since the partition of Ireland and the corresponding formation of the region of Northern Ireland.

The Queen had been scheduled to attend the service during a two-day trip to Northern Ireland, however Buckingham Palace announced yesterday that doctors had advised her to “rest for the next few days”.

Alongside, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson; Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie and Alliance leader Naomi Long, two Irish government ministers were in attendance.

Sinn Féin, who boycotted the ceremony, expressed disagreement with the Irish government’s decision to send representatives.

President Michael Higgins was initially expected to attend but declined an invitation, complaining that the event had become too politicised.

The service, titled “A Service of Reflection and Hope”, was organised by leaders of the major organised Protestant and Catholic Churches in the area.

The president Ireland’s Methodist Church, Rev Dr Sahr Yambasu gave the keynote sermon in which he “We have come a long way – not just a century but centuries” since the partition in May 2021.He said that: “During that time people have cared for one another and made efforts to build community,” adding: “We have also been blighted by sectarian divisions, terrible injustices, destructive violence, and by win-lose political attitudes. And for this, we have cause to lament.”