Killyleagh lights to go out for commemoration

Killyleagh lights to go out for commemoration

30 July 2014

KILLYLEAGH is staging a ‘Lights Out’ event as part of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

The town is one of the key points for the Northern Ireland commemorations, with the extra ‘Lights Out’ event added for next Monday night when the main centenary event will be held.

At the end of the cross-community event at the Castle Square, a single candle will be lit at 8pm and this will be later be extinguished at 10pm as part of the overall ‘Lights Out’ gatherings when residents of Killyleagh, Shrigley and surrounding villages will be encouraged to return to the War Memorial for a short time of reflection.

Residents are also being urged to turn off their lights between 10pm and 11pm on Monday night, leaving only a single light or candle for a UK-wide symbolic act of reflection and hope.

The commemoration night on Monday opens at 7pm with a pealing of the church bells of St John’s Church of Ireland, 100 rings to mark the anniversary.

World champion piper Richard Parkes, of the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band, will then perform a lament. It is the first time he has performed solo in his home town. A commemorative battlefield cross will then be laid on behalf of the town by Second World War veteran Tina Charters, who will be accompanied by local schoolchildren.

“The aim is to involve the next generation so we are keen to have as many children and young people attend, particularly relatives of the 244 men from Killyleagh and Shrigley who served,” explained one of the organisers.

“Individual crosses will be available and we would like people to mark a name on these in memory of their loved ones who served in the Great War. It would be appreciated if people made a small donation for these crosses, or alternatively they can bring along their own handmade crosses with names on them.

“This is a cross-community event to reflect the fact that people from all walks of life and religions joined up to fight in the Great War.’’

Special guests at the event will include the grandson of Killyleagh’s Military Medal winner, Tommy ‘T.A.’ Andrews who is flying in from Canada, while relatives of James Morrison, who was awarded the DCM, have also been invited.

Before that, this Saturday a memories and medals day takes place at the Lecture Hall in Irish Street from 10am to 6pm. An appeal has gone out to relatives of men from the Shrigley and Killyleagh areas who served in the Great War to bring along their medals, photos and any memorabilia.

At 2pm Killyleagh-born Philip Orr, the author of the two leading histories on Irish soldiers’ participation at the Somme and Gallipoli, will give a talk at the Lecture Hall. Entry is free for this event, which is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Copies of the full programme of events, which run until November, are available from Killyleagh Post Office and Killyleagh Library.