Sadly, the absence of the Queen and Michael D Higgins will be remembered long after centenary church service event

The centenary inter-denominational church service at Armagh Cathedral was intended by the organisers to be a time of ‘hope and reflection’ but in the run-up to today it has become sadly a politically contentious issue with much attention given to who is not attending rather than to those who are in the pews of this hallowed and ancient building.