November home coming parade for RIR
Thursday, 21 August 2008
As Freemen of the Borough, the Royal Irish exercise their right to parade the streets of Ballymena in the early 1900’s.
THE Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) have been invited to parade through the streets of Ballymena on their return from Afghanistan in the autumn.
Details of the parade were released after Ballymena Borough Council agreed to a welcome home celebration.
Mayor, Maurice Mills had asked council to organise an event for the RIR in recognition of their sterling work in the dangerous war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The regiment are Freemen of the Borough and until recently had their Regimental HQ and training depot at St Patrick's Barracks.
Cllr Mills said Ballymena had been a garrison town for 60 years and that a welcome home celebration would "give the public an opportunity to express their appreciation".
The parade is expected to take the form of a march past, sit down meal at the new Braid Town Hall complex and a certificate for the soldiers.
North Antrim MLA Ian Paisley Jnr wrote to Lieutenant Colonel Ed Freely, commanding officer of the Royal Irish Regiment's 1st Battalion, in May suggesting that the soldiers march in Ballymena on their return.
In a letter to Mr Paisley, Lt Col Freely said: "It is always good to receive correspondence when deployed away on operations.
“Never more so than when the regiment's 'home town' so generously invites us to march through the town following completion of our current duties in Afghanistan."
Meanwhile, in a joint statement, Ballymena Mayor Maurice Mills and Mr Paisley Jnr said that they were delighted the council had agreed to welcome the soldiers home with a public ceremony.
“This is a significant mark of community appreciation for our soldiers and a real honour for Ballymena," they said.
Meanwhile, Rev Dr Robert Coulter, Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim, has called on towns in County Antrim to host 'home coming' parades for RIR troops who will be returning to the Province in September.
Dr. Coulter said: "I believe the towns of Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle would act as perfect hosts for these brave men and women who have been out fighting in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan."
“Looking at St Patrick's barracks in Ballymena, this was once a major military base for the RIR and I therefore believe the town would act as a perfect location for any such parade."
“In recent months, the local press has been calling for home coming parades for our brave soldiers allowing us to recognise the difficulties they face on a daily basis as they carry out their duty."
“I do not believe that these parades should be centered in Belfast and I believe local towns should take the opportunity to voice their desire to host them. This is common practice in some English towns and villages and I think it is important that these parades are adopted here."
“It is time we gave our whole hearted support for those brave men and woman serving for their country."
