Tributes paid to former mayor at centre opening

The facility, on Old Glenarm Road, was closed last February after Larne council decided to demolish the building and erect a new hall in its place at a cost of 300,000.

The new centre was officially unveiled by Mayor Bobby McKee at a ceremony on Friday. The event was Mr McKee's first public appearance since his fall before Christmas, which left him needing a hip replacement.

But the DUP man said he had made a special effort to attend the opening ceremony as a tribute to the late ex-mayor of Larne, Tommy Seymour, who was a stalwart of the old community centre.

See full coverage of this special day in this week's paper. We are both local guys and have always viewed this centre as important to the wider community.”

Ald McKee said the new facility had “surpassed all expectations”. He added: “We had several knock-backs over the years in terms of trying to secure funding and it has been very frustrating. But the area deserves this facility and it is fantastic to see this day come at last.”