Killyleagh women London-bound to mark end of WWI

Killyleagh women London-bound to mark end of WWI

24 October 2018

TWO Killyleagh women are London bound to represent the town at a national day of commemoration to mark the end of the First World War.

Mrs Ann Fee and Miss Zena McAllister will take part in the national commemoration event at Westminster Abbey.

They are expected to join members of the Royal family at the Abbey event on November 11 after they were nominated by the Killyleagh Remembers the War group.

The group is putting the finishing touches to a series of events to mark next month’s centenary of the guns finally falling silent.

“The lantern walk from Shrigley to Killyleagh on Remembrance night, on the way to the lighting  of the beacon at the front of Killyleagh Castle, is open to all,” explained a spokesperson for the group.

“We would encourage families to take part and join in at any stage. We would also ask people to bring a torch, lantern or candle to make it a true beacon of light.”

The Remembrance Week events also include a talk by leading war historian Philip Orr on Monday, November 5, a war walking trail of the town on the afternoon of Sunday, November 4, and a Battle’s Over commemoration evening at the Bridge Centre on Friday, November 9, featuring marching displays, special music, war poetry, the reading of last letters home and an act of remembrance. 

An eight-page colour programme, setting out the events and the background to the anniversary, has been produced. It is available free from the library.

The programme is being supported by the European Union’s Peace 4 Programme, managed by the Special EU programmes body, with additional support from Newry Mourne and Down council for the beacon.