A SPECIAL moment in Christmas history was recreated recently on the streets of Enniscorthy by a newly formed local re-enactment group.

The event was organised to commemorate the 1914 Christmas Day Truce when Allied and German forces came out of the trenches in No Man’s Land to celebrate with one another.

Joined by Enniscorthy Choral Society, which gave moving renditions of Silent Night in Irish, English and German, the Enniscorthy Re-enactment Group recreated the famous handshake along with a little bit of football, just like the WW1 soldiers 100 years ago.

A number of people who gathered to watch the living history became visibly emotive by the occasion, and were full of praise for the “poise, dignity and respect” for the memory of those who in the depths of war amid the horrors of Flanders Fields who were able to rediscover  love and understanding for their fellow man if only for a couple of stolen hours.

Following the ceremony at Market Square the Re-enactment Group marched around the town and posed for photos with excited children.

Under the guidance and tutelage of Rory O`Connor and Ray Murphy, the group said it was honoured to be associated with the commemoration and looks forward to further similar events in Enniscorthy in 2015.