Antrim and Newtownabbey beacons will be lit to commemorate D-Day Landings

The commemoration is being organised by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The event was approved by the council’s Community Planning Committee at a meeting on Monday evening.

D-Day was the largest naval, air and land operation in history and marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War. ‘Operation Overload’ saw around 4,000 ships and landing craft set down 132,500 troops on beaches in Normandy, France, leading to the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation.

An exhibition of World War II memorabilia will be on display at Sentry Hill House, in Newtownabbey, from June 5 until 24. In addition, a family day is proposed at Sentry Hill, on Saturday June 8, which will include a military display by 1919 Newtownabbey RAF Air Cadets Squadron, a musical tribute to Dame Vera Lynn, a ‘Living Library’ to be organised by local military veterans and crafts for children.

However, councillors have ruled out a ceremonial beacon being lit in each district electoral area due to cost. They were advised the cost of hiring five beacons in addition to a pair already owned by the local authority and providing a bugler, piper and staff for all seven events would be approximately £5,850 which was not in the budget for 2024/25.

Meanwhile, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will be hosting this year’s Armed Forces Day, which will take place at Hazelbank Park and Jordanstown Loughshore Park, on June 22, at a cost of £80,000, after the council’s application to the Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association for Northern Ireland (RFCA NI) was successful. The event is held annually to celebrate the service of personnel in the British Armed Forces, past and present.

This year’s theme will be ‘Veterans and D-Day’. As part of the programme, it is planned to unveil a large perspex representation of the flotilla gathered in Belfast Lough prior to departing for France in June 1944.

Speaking at the committee meeting, Glengormley Alliance Alderman Julian McGrath said he was “happy to propose a fantastic historical event”. His proposal was seconded by Antrim DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter