The people of Ireland have been showing support for Paris in the city's time of need as an Irish tourist wounded in the Friday Islamic State brutal attacks on France’s capital has been deemed to be in a serious but stable condition.
The death toll from the six mass shootings and suicide bombing attacks on Paris, on Friday evening, has hit 132. Over 350 people were injured. This is the most severe bloodshed seen on the streets of the city of lights since World War II.
In response to the attacks, French President François Hollande announced a state of emergency and placed temporary controls on the country's borders. On Sunday the French Air Force bombed the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa.
Since the Friday’s attacks vigils, marches and masses around Ireland have been held in displays of solidarity with the people of France.
On Saturday 3,000 - 4,000 people marched through Dublin, from the Spire on O'Connell Street to the Alliance Francaise building. Many of the marchers were flying or wearing the French flag and others brought offerings of flowers and notes.
The French Ambassador to Ireland Jean-Pierre Thebault has thanked the Irish public and government for their “strong support for France and its citizens.”
“This matters. It is a message sent to the terrorists. You will not win. You will be defeated because we stand in unison,” he said.
“The French in Ireland are telling me ‘We are lucky to be in Ireland.’
“We are lucky because we are in the community, because the community is taking care of us and because we feel at home while being with the Irish.” The Ambassador was speaking to TV3’s “Sunday: AM” show.
Echoing the words of French President Francois Hollande, Thebault also promised that France would fight back.
He said, “We have a firm resolve, a firm resolve to fight them back.
“Because what those terrorists are representing is not only a threat to our values, to our daily lives, and not only the ones of France, also the ones of all of us, but also they want to expand, they want to increase their power.”
Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny ordered the flags to be flown at half-mast on all Government buildings in support of the people of Paris.
A minute's silence was held across Europe on Monday, including a gathering on Merrion Square in Dublin. The crowd that gathered outside the French embassy sang the French national anthem before breaking out in applause after the minute's silence.
WATCH: France, Ireland & Europe mark minute silence for Paris attack victims: https://t.co/spLx3Unb8a pic.twitter.com/jkgLAAOeVN
— Newstalk 106-108fm (@NewstalkFM) November 16, 2015
In Paris, Hollande was at the Sorbonne University surrounded by his cabinet to mark the occasion. Hundreds of people gathered at the central Place de la Republique.
Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins, on hearing of the attacks, said, “The attacks in Paris represent an attack not only on the people of France but also on the values that are the very essence of freedom of thought and expression.”
On Sunday a minute's silence was also held before the annual Christmas lighting ceremony on Grafton Street. Thousands have already signed the book of condolence, at the Pro-Cathedral.
A book of condolence has opened at Pro Cathedral, Dublin, for victims of the Paris attacks https://t.co/nXqIWE3bGK pic.twitter.com/F1VLhBQHGE
— Ireland Live News (@IrelandLive) November 14, 2015
Dr Umar Al-Qadri, Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre, laid a wreath at the embassy and said the terrorists were trying to divide communities and he said they were criminals.
In Cork, a candlelit vigil was held at the National Monument on Monday evening for the 16,000+ French residents of the county. At University College Cork, the Tyndall Institute and at the Cork Institute of Technology vigils of solidarity will be held on Tuesday.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Chris O'Leary, was joined by the city's Honorary French consul Patricia Mallon to sign a book of condolence, opened by him at Cork's City Hall.
Silence descended across Northern Ireland, as people paused to reflect on the horrific events in Paris. At Stormont, politicians from all sides stood together to pray tribute to the victims.
Minute of silence at Stormont for Paris victims https://t.co/TAVKF5SVBR pic.twitter.com/NNcqMz3OcK
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 16, 2015
Over the weekend, Irish band U2, who canceled their Paris concerts in the wake of the attacks, visited one of the memorials to the victims.
An Irish citizen who was among the hundreds injured at the Bataclan theater underwent surgery for gunshot wounds and is considered stable. 89 people lost their lives when gunmen entered the Eagles of Death Metal concert and opened fire on the crowd.
The Irishman was shot in the leg with a high-velocity bullet and lost a great deal of blood. Sources told the Irish Independent that he lay across his partner in a bid to save her.
READ MORE: Irish couple played dead to survive Paris attack
It was confirmed that the Irishman was visiting Paris for the weekend. Consular assistance is being provided to his family.
It’s understood that the couple are traumatized and their decision to attend the concert was “an 11th-hour decision.”
A source close to the family said, “They are a lovely family and hugely respected … everyone here is now praying for his safe recovery.
"From what we have heard, he was certainly one of the lucky ones."
Charlie Flanagan, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said more consular staff were added over the weekend to aid concerned Irish citizens. He again called on all those Irish living in Paris to contact home to let loved ones know they’re safe.
In Dublin, the crowd assembled outside the Alliance Francaise on Kildare Street Dublin sang the French national anthem “Marseillaise”:
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