47 names submitted for ‘Recognition’

They agreed last year to mark the legacy of Council by honouring exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions of its citizens in a Recognition Awards Ceremony.

In the past, the Council has honoured the exceptional achievements and contributions of its citizens through civic receptions and by bestowing the highest Council accolade of Freedom of the Borough to individuals and groups such as Liam Neeson and the RIR.

However, with the merging of Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus Councils to form Mid & East Antrim District Council in April, this is the last opportunity for Ballymena Council to officially recognise the achievements and contributions of people from the area.

Acting Chief Executive Rodger McKnight told Council’s January meeting, last week, that a total of 47 nominations had been submitted “across the spectrum” of sectors.

Through a nomination process, which closed in October, members of the public were invited to put forward names of people or groups they felt were of sufficient merit and prestige to warrant an award.

At last Monday night’s meeting, Councillors heard that it was up to a specially appointed working group to make recommendations on the nominations received which would then be further defined at Officer level before being put before Council in the coming weeks.

Councillors were also advised that a ‘Legacy’ Newsletter was “progressing apace”, would be brought to “a refined state in the next few weeks” and then put before Council by the end of the month for full determination.