By the weekend, there was an attempt by community organisations to “normalise”. Of course, the very idea was delusional. It was far too early for “business as usual”; and anyway the community would never be “normal” again.

Even so, we fought to regain a vestige of control. For me, this was nowhere more necessary than at the first Sunday service after the fire: at 11.30 a.m. Parish Mass. With some significant further assistance from the private sector, on Friday afternoon the council finally contributed to the removal of boxes piled high in both churches. Members of the two congregations then set about preparing for Sunday worship.