Posted on 10/22/2014 6:51:16 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
Ian Paisley often divided Northern Ireland in life. But a memorial to the Protestant evangelist who struck a twilight peace with Catholics united the British territory's fractious leaders in hymns and prayers Sunday.
More than 800 dignitaries from across Britain and Ireland, among them former prime ministers and paramilitary enemies, packed the Ulster Hall in Belfast to eulogize Paisley, who died last month at age 88. Paisley's widow and two sons led the service.
[SNIP]
The service featured a massive oil portrait of Paisley on stage and, at the end, a recording of him reading a passage from "Amazing Grace." A lone bagpiper took up the tune and the crowd stood to sing.
His wife, Eileen, described their 58-year marriage as "not a dictatorship, but a partnership" and her husband as "one of the happiest men on earth. He was happy in his pulpit, in his incredible zest for life, in the three parliaments in which he served."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
That’s an appropriate photo for this thread.
I was looking for George Harrison wearing paisley but became impatient.
Your posted picture is better.
God bless those Catholics who showed what forgiveness is by forgiving Ian Paisley. Just yesterday a lady who grew up in Belfast in the 50’s reminisced for me about being shot at walking to a Catholic church on a Sunday, aged about 7.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.