Thousands attend vigils for Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee as more due to take place today

"We protect each other because there is no other way to survive in this world."

Thousands of people attended vigils across Ireland on Friday in memory of the two men killed in Sligo. Aidan Moffitt, 41, and Michael Snee, 58, were found dead in their homes earlier this week. A 22-year-old man has since been charged with their murders. Gardaí suspect there is a homophobic motive behind the attacks. More than 30 events took place in Sligo and other counties - many of which were organised by local LGBT groups. In Sligo, hundreds of people gathered in front of the Town Hall to pay tribute to the victims, including some of their friends and family. Mayor of Sligo Arthur Gibbons was in attendance and said the events of the past week were “not representative of Sligo". Caitriona Bonner of Sligo Pride said “Sligo was shaken to its core,” by the murders. In Dublin, hundreds of people gathered outside Dáil Éireann to pay their respects, with many people proudly waving Pride flags. A minutes silence was observed, and Dublin LGBT choir sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow. https://twitter.com/DublinPride/status/1515014947138322433 Several speakers also addressed the crowd, including Aifric Ní Chríodain from LGBTQ charity Shoutout, who said: "If this is your first time at a public LGBT gathering, thank you so much for your courage. Thank you for joining us and welcome. "We protect each other because there is no other way to survive in this world. "It reminds us that we cannot exist in isolation, that we cannot withdraw from each other, from our neighbours in the communities beside us of any difference and any distance. "We all rely on each other despite those differences, despite those distances, and with those distances and those differences as empowering tools. That is what community fundamentally means it means that standing together." More vigils will take place today in counties Wicklow, Donegal, Galway and Kildare. Further memorials to pay tribute to the two victims are also being organised early next week. Feature Image via Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie