Ballymoney gearing up for Diamond Jubilee

Council’s key events centred around the historic moment in the town’s history when the Royal Couple visited in the 1950s on their Coronation visit to Northern Ireland.

Key events include an exhibition of vintage film, photographs and memorabilia in the museum; 1950s movie nights; An illustrated talk by local historian S Alex Blair on the Queen’s 1950s visit and the area’s Royal Links; an exhibition on life and times in the borough in the Fifties.

There will also be a community celebration cycle around Ballymoney’s shared use path network to mark the opening of the new cycle friendly pedestrian bridge; music from the Coronation year in the Diamond; church Services and parades.

Other events include a sports Day to mark the QEII Fields Award; Armed Forces Day; Jubilee Pageant joining the Mayor’s Show; tree planting; presentation of commemorative coins to P7 schoolchildren; Jubilee Beacon; Council sponsored Jubilee Race at Armoy Race of Legends; Jubilee flowerbed; charity knitting event; community tribute triangle bunting.

Meanwhile, a number of groups have obtained funding for Jubilee events: Cloughmills Cultural and Historical Society - Evening Tea Dance on 18/05/2012; Kilraughts G.F. Association - Fun Evening & BBQ on 08/06/2012; Ballymoney Evergreen Club - Tea Party on 08/06/2012; Eden Primary School PTA - Jubilee Treasure Hunt & Fun Evening on 08/06/2012; Ballymaconnelly Renewal Group - Tea Party on 05/06/2012; The Royal British Legion Women’s Section - Cream Tea and light entertainment on 07/07/2012 or 28/07/2012.

Lavin Flute Band - Sports Evening on 15/06/2012; Balnamore and District Community Association - Jubilee Festival from 01/06/2012-06/06/2012; Dervock & District Community Association - Street Party in conjunction with KK McArthur Festival of Running 2012 on 03/06/2012; Glebeside Community Association - Jubilee Celebration Event on 03/08/2012; Stranocum Ulster Scots - Celebration Party on 02/06/2012.

Eden Accordion Band - Tea Party on 01/09/2012; Dunaghy Flute Band - “An Evening of Celebration” on 15/07/2012; Garryduff Flute Band - Family Fun Evening on 04/06/2012; Cloughmills Community Action Team - Tea Dance on 21/06/2012; Stranocum & District Community Association - Jubilee Celebration Event; Stranocum & District Development Group - Jubilee Street Party on 04/06/2012.

In related news, Group Ten of the Royal British Legion has extended an invitation to the Mayor of Ballymoney and members of the Council to attend a Parade and Church Service to be held in Ballymoney to celbrate the Diamond Jubilee on Saturday June 9.

All organisations are asked to assemble at Ballymoney Showgrounds for 12.30pm where the parade will advance to the War Memorial where wreaths will be laid by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for County Antrim and the President of Ballymoney Branch RBL and an Act of Remembrance will be conducted.

The parade will proceed along Main Street into Meetinghouse Street for a Church Service at First Ballymoney Presbyterian Church at 2pm and return via Queen Street and High Street where the salute will be taken by the Lord Lieutenant and the parade will then proceed to Townhead Street for dispersal at the Showgrounds.