Council flies flag for the Commonwealth

Mayor of Carrickfergus Alderman Billy Ashe raises the flag on Commonwealth Day with Faith Clarke, Junior Mayor; Matthew Braden, Junior Deputy Mayor; Councillors Beryl McKnight, Isobel Day and Noel Williams. INCT 11-042-PSB

The local authority was one of hundreds across the UK to raise a flag on Commonwealth Day (March 10).

The event took place at Castle Green on Monday morning, with a twin flag raised at Carrick Town Hall.

The story of the Commonwealth was relayed by members of the Junior Council, with Junior Mayor Faith Clarke reading out the Commonwealth Affirmation.

Attendees even took part in a short dance performance with artists from Beyond Skin, a Belfast-based organisation which uses music, arts and media to assist in the building and development of cultural relations across Northern Ireland.

Carrick Council’s Good Relations officer Fiona Surgenor said: “The Commonwealth is the family of 54 nations spread over every continent and ocean in the world. Although the people of the Commonwealth are different in many ways, they work together by sharing ideas, experiences, skills and knowledge.

“About 30 percent of the world’s people live in the Commonwealth - that’s over two billion adults and children. It includes some of the worlds largest nations, like India, and some of the smallest’ like Grenada.

“It is about friendship and respect between people and countries; it works to improve education for everyone; it opposes racism; it encourages democracy and respect for human rights.”

A message was also relayed from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, thanking those who took part in the initiative.