Town to mark Chinese New Year on Saturday

Ballymena Town Centre Development Ltd (BTCD) in partnership with Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum are pleased to welcome these spectacular dancers into town to celebrate Chinese New Year which, in 2012, is the year of the Dragon.

Dragon years signify economic prosperity and are considered lucky years for anyone embarking on a new business or project.

The event has been supported through Ballymena Borough Council’s Good Relations Unit and OFMDFM’s Minority Ethnic Development Fund and District Council’s Good Relations Programme who have jointly funded this event with Ballymena Town Centre Development Ltd.

The procession will start from the Bandstand at 11.30 with an opening address from Mayor Councillor Hubert Nicholl, prior to heading down Church Street to the Braid, along Mill Street, up Wellington Street through the Tower Centre, along Ballymoney Street to Fairhill Centre out on to Broughshane Street and back to the Bandstand concluding at 1.30pm.

Mayor, Councillor Hubert Nicholl said “Ballymena Borough Council is delighted to support this event with funding from its Good Relations Unit.”

Amanda Bennett, Town Centre Manager added “I am pleased to work with Ivy Ridge and her colleagues at Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum to deliver a great opportunity to take part in a colourful, vibrant and culturally rich procession and to learn about the history of Chinese New Year and in particular the year of the Dragon.”

The event also has the support of the PSNI and Ballymena Inspector John Allen said: “This is an opportunity to celebrate the diverse nature of the Ballymena community”.

Anyone wanting further details should contact Amanda Bennett on 028 2563 5945 or be at the Bandstand at 11.30am on Saturday, January 28, for the start of the procession.