KILDARE GENERAL, 14 September: by Brian Byrne. It's like a Good Friday in Ireland today, except that we're not recalling the death of Christ with the expectation of a joyful resurrerction in two days' time. Instead we're all mourning those of our own and those of America's who have died in the catastrophe of September 11.
There will be no resurrection on Sunday to celebrate. There is nothing at all to celebrate this week, except that for some of us with loved ones in Manhattan, we live in thanks that they are OK.
All over Ireland and in County Kildare itself, a number of services have taken place and many books of condolence are being signed, as in Kilcullen (right).
Though there has been little time for publicising such events, people today are somehow gravitating to the places where they can express their sympathy.
In Naas, the Reverand Michael Wooderson (left) conducted a short ceremony of remembrance coinciding with the national service in Dublin's pro-cathedral. He told members of the congregation from different demoninations that 'this is not a time for words, enough words have been said already. It is a time for reflection and prayer'.
There will also be special prayers for the US at the Harvest Festival Service in St John's Church, Kill, this Friday evening at 8pm.
In Dublin, some 4,000 people are currently queuing at the US Embassy to sign books of condolence there.
©2001/knn