A number of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings this June will be taking place across the borough – and everyone is warmly invited to come along and get involved.
Three events will be taking place – in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon – with all including the lighting of the Beacon and the reading of The International Tribute.
The Armagh event will take place in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral. A service will include an act of remembrance recalling those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the D-Day landings, and during the Second World War, in the pursuit of peace and freedom. This will be followed by the lighting of the Beacon at 9.15pm.
“The service will mark this significant anniversary with a sense of thanksgiving and remembrance and will involve representatives from across the community,” said the Dean of Armagh, the Very Reverend Shane Forster.
Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre will host local school children from Dickson Primary who have been working on a D-Day project, as well as some music from St Mark’s Silver Band and a talk from local historian Richard Edgar. Light refreshments will also be provided before taking a short walk to Craigavon Lakes for the lighting of the Beacon.
The Banbridge event will be held at the Civic Building and will feature pupils from Banbridge High School and St Patrick’s College who have been working together for several months on the subject of World War II and D-Day. Frontier Pipes and Drums will attend the event and light refreshments will also be available before the lighting of the Beacon at the front of the building.
All proceedings will begin at 8pm and the Beacon lighting will take place at 9.15pm along with the reading of The International Tribute. Guides and Scouts will read the Tribute in Armagh and Craigavon, while local students will read it in Banbridge.
“We are delighted to be able to host three different events across our borough to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day,” commented the Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Margaret Tinsley.
“We would love to invite as many members of the public to come along and join us at one of these special events as we pay tribute to those who bravely fought for our freedom.”
For more information, please contact Diane Stinson on 07786 517 767 or email
This initiative is supported through The Executive Office District Council Good Relations Programme.
