The outpouring of support for the Spence family, which lost three of its members in a slurry tank accident at the weekend, was recorded in two condolence books there– just a stone’s throw from the pitch where Ulster squad member Nevin Spence built his reputation.

The 22-year-old perished alongside father Noel and brother Graham in the tragedy at their family farm on Saturday night.

The condolence books were open to the public from around 10am , and for much of the day visitors had to queue to sign them.

By mid-afternoon at least 20 pages had been filled and the huge array of pitchside tributes continued to grow.

Among those arriving throughout the day were Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore [the Republic’s deputy leader] and Theresa Villiers, the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Then, at around 2.20pm, I arrived with the Rev Ian Paisley and walked with him to where the books of condolence were laid out.

In it, he wrote simply: “Ian, Lord Bannside. The dead in Christ shall rise first – what a day that will be,” and I signed underneath.

Emerging afterwards, he told reporters that he knew the Spence family.

“These things come to try you in life and we have to face them, but there’s a hope,” he said, calling the family’s Christian faith a “break of sunshine” in the midst of death’s “dark valley”.

He continued: “There will be a happy meeting again, when all sickness, trials, troubles and difficulties will be over, and death will be no more.

“The justifying faith these men have gives a beautiful rainbow over the valley of tears. It’s a warning to us – none of us are here forever.

“We’re travelling home. And we pick that home, in time.

“One thinks of the gloom and the darkness and the sorrow and the shaking of the whole family, and then the brightness of faith coming through.”