THE Act of Remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen will take place this year on Remembrance Sunday, November 14.

The continuing Covid-19 pandemic's restrictions for outdoor events having been considerably eased, meaning that the Cenotaph Remembrance Ceremony this year will be returning to something near normal.

Enniskillen Royal British Legion (ERBL) is encouraging the community to take part, endeavouring to observe social distancing, but also remembering that the Remembrance Day parade and service can be watched online or by pausing for the two-minute silence again from home on November 14.

The Chairman of the ERBL, John Jones, said: "Enniskillen Royal British Legion is filming and live-streaming the Act of Remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph on Sunday, November 14, which can be accessed through St. Macartin’s Cathedral website from 10.45am.

"The ceremony will be immediately followed at 11.30am by the Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance, which will take place in St. Macartin’s Cathedral, led by The Very Rev. Kenneth Hall.

"The service will be streamed online with a limited number of invited government, civic, armed forces, ex-service and community representatives in attendance.

"This will provide an opportunity for our community to pause, reflect and remember, honouring the sacrifice of the fallen and valour of our veterans."

Within RBL guidelines, invited guests and other VIPs will join the RBL to mark the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph.

They will be invited to carry out their own Act of Remembrance, led by The Viscount Brookeborough, Lord Lieutenant for Co. Fermanagh, who will be accompanied by a senior representative of the Northern Ireland Office/UK government, along with a senior representative of the Department of An Taoiseach, and a representative of the NI Executive.

Others involved in the Act of Remembrance will include a representative of Fermanagh & Omagh District Council; Catherine Irwin, High Sheriff for Co. Fermanagh; Chris Rendo, Deputy US Consul General; Jerome Mullan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland; and Danny Kinahan, Veterans Commissioner.

They will be joined by a member of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, in addition to a bugler, piper and the RBL standard bearer from the Enniskillen branch.

Mr. Jones, Chairman of the ERBL branch, will deliver the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph.

Arrangements have been made to give relatives of the Enniskillen Remembrance Day Bombing an opportunity to attend the Cenotaph immediately before the Act of Remembrance and two-minute silence at 10.30am.

Mr. Jones said: "The Legion, in its Remembrance activities and actions, pays tribute to the millions of British and Commonwealth and foreign men and women who served, so many making the ultimate sacrifice, in both World Wars and in more recent conflicts.

"It also pays tribute to the service and sacrifice of those today whom are continuously battling, courageously and unceasingly, on our behalf against Covid-19."

Mr. Jones continued: "The Royal British Legion Hall in Enniskillen will be open until Saturday, November 13 from 11am to 4pm for those wishing to purchase poppies and poppy wreaths.

"The Poppy Appeal and the valuable work of the Royal British Legion ensures that veterans and service families are looked after, no matter what challenges they and the country face.

"This year, members of the community who would normally participate in the ceremony and lay a wreath, can attend with the Royal British Legion and perform their own personal Act of Remembrance.

"Individuals or organisations may also choose to lay their wreaths at an alternative time over the weekend."

Mr. Jones thanked the community for their support and co-operation for Remembrance Sunday this year, which will enable the Act of Remembrance to proceed in a safe and dignified way, in accordance with current Covid-19 guidelines.