THE 109th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic was marked yesterday with an online tribute to those who perished at sea.
It is the second year that the annual remembrance service at the Titanic Memorial Garden at Belfast City Hall has had to be cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
But a short commemorative video was made broadcast on the Belfast City Council website to mark the anniversary of the sinking of the Belfast-built ship, which struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage.
The video included footage of the memorial garden and a short prayer and reflection by Reverend Ian Gilpin from the non-subscribing Presbyterian Church in Comber.
Floral tributes were also laid in the garden yesterday by Belfast Titanic Society president Susie Millar and Belfast lord mayor Frank McCoubrey.
The wreaths included 15 bronze plaques, listing the names of the 1,512 who died at sea in the early hours of April 15 1912. They were laid on behalf of the relatives who would usually attend the memorial service in person.
Mr McCoubrey paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
"We may not be able to gather in person, but it is important, as it is every year, to remember the lives that were lost on Titanic all those years ago," he said.
"We hope that the short commemorative video will allow people to still mark the anniversary, giving them the opportunity to pause and reflect."
Ms Millar, who also participated in the video, said: "It’s important that we, as a society, and we in the city of Belfast continue to hold this ceremony and just to take those few minutes to think about those who were lost".
To view the commemoration video, please visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/TitanicCommemoration
