UDR tribute approved for Ballyclare War Memorial Park

A civic event to mark the unveiling of a memorial to the Ulster Defence Regiment in Ballyclare has been postponed, Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors agreed on Monday night.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Members of the council’s Community Planning Committee have decided to hold an event when restrictions on indoor gatherings due to the Covid pandemic are “sufficiently relaxed”.

The memorial is to be installed in Ballyclare Memorial Park to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UDR. It has been designed at a cost of £1,100.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The inscription pays tribute to ‘those men and women who served when danger threatened’ adding ‘some made the supreme sacrifice. Lest we forget’.

Ballyclare War Memorial Park. Pic courtesy GoogleBallyclare War Memorial Park. Pic courtesy Google
Ballyclare War Memorial Park. Pic courtesy Google

The design is intended to be in keeping with the council’s existing war memorial in the park. It will also feature  regimental insignia and badges.

In January, a proposal for a permanent memorial by former Ulster Unionist Alderman Danny Kinahan , now Veterans’ Commissioner, was further to a motion brought to the borough council by DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop, from Antrim and seconded by UUP Cllr Robert Foster, Macedon, for a commemorative civic event to be held.

Ald Kinahan congratulated Cllr Dunlop for bringing the motion, saying that the UDR “did many great things, worked all day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for many years”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cllr Dunlop recalled it was the largest regiment in the British Army, over half of which was full-time.

“Without their commitment and sacrifice, the police could have been overwhelmed,” he said

More than 190 members were killed on active service and another 60 were killed after leaving the regiment

Cllr Foster pointed out the regiment had “strong bonds and connections” to Antrim, Ballyclare and Newtownabbey.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The motion was opposed by Macedon Sinn Fein Cllr Taylor McGrann who said: “When I read this motion I asked myself of what benefit to this council would it be to hold a civic event for the UDR, arguably the most widely criticised regiment of the British army?

“The fact we are talking about a civic reception for the UDR is just disgraceful.”

On Monday evening, the committee agreed to conduct a “Covid -19 compliant service of dedication at the time of installation”.

Threemilewater DUP Cllr Stephen Ross asked that “those who have done the work are invited and not just senior people within the council”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ballyclare Ulster Unionist Cllr Vera McWilliam said she concurred with Cllr Ross, adding: “We are locals who have been involved and should be included in the ceremony.”

Click here to read: Permanent memorial to UDR planned for Ballyclare

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

--

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.

Related topics: