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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Conor Coyle

A look back on the Queen’s historic visit to Enniskillen in 2012

An historic moment for Queen Elizabeth II came in Enniskillen of all places in 2012, when she made a famous walk from St Macartin's Cathedral into St Michael’s church in the town.

It was the first time that the Queen had entered a Roman Catholic Church, in a major symbol of peace and reconciliation in the Co Fermanagh town.

Read more: The Queen has died at her home in Balmoral

The event took place to mark the 25th anniversary of the Enniskillen bomb, with both members of clergy coming together to welcome the Queen with church services.

The Queen and Prince Philip arrived into St Angelo Airport in Enniskillen on a typical grey Fermanagh day before making their way into Enniskillen town.

Royal fans lined the streets of the town to welcome them, with thousands in the town delighted to see the Queen. That was all despite the heavy rainfall which set upon the town.

Coordinating the visits to the two Churches were Canon Peter O'Reilly, from St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, and the Very Rev Kenny Hall, Dean of St Macartin's Cathedral.

It was a historic moment in which leaders of the two faiths in the town co-operated to deliver a welcome to the Queen.

Crowds wait in heavy rain in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II during a two-day as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Speaking at the time, Canon O'Reilly said: "My reading of the significance of today is that it is an expression of the unity that there is in this place - a Fermanagh welcome, a gracious Queen, a lovely lady."

The Rt Rev Hall said it was about sending a message that we are all from ‘one community’.

“We have worked together to make this a success. And what we are really sending out is a message that we really are one community,” Rt Rev Hall said.

Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from local school children after she visited South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, during a two-day visit to Northern Ireland as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour. (Julien Behal/PA Wire)

The Royals also made a visit to the nearby South West Acute Hospital, where the Queen received flowers from local school children.

The visit to Enniskillen came a day before another symbolic moment, a meeting between former IRA commander and Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness.

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