DUP man: This little land has provided leaders of global calibre

When countries come to celebrate their key anniversaries, they of course focus on the positive – but its right to remember the challenging or difficult times.

In six short years the USA will be celebrating its 250th birthday. Like Northern Ireland, the United States has endured troubling and difficult times.

No country is perfect. We have lived through interesting times these past 100 years. Remarkable progress has been made.

Let us remember for example the key role our country played in the Second World War and later the Cold War.

Northern Ireland was the home to thousands of American GIs during World War Two, and the safe harbour for ships crossing the Atlantic bringing vital supplies to continue the war effort.

As Sir Winston Churchill famously said: “But for the loyalty of Northern Ireland... the light which now shines so strongly throughout the world would have been quenched.”

We should be rightly proud also to celebrate the people of our land who have made a difference not just in Northern Ireland but around the world.

Let us remember for example Chaim Herzog [from Belfast], the 6th President of Israel, William Massey [from Limavady], the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand, Dame Susan Burnell [from Lurgan], a renowned astrophysicist, and Seamus Heaney [from Co Londonderry], the recipient of the Noble Prize of Literature.

Let us therefore endeavour to celebrate 2021 with a positive and engaging campaign that celebrates our people, places and events that have shaped our wonderful country.

I look forward to seeing the details coming from the Northern Ireland Office on what it is planning, and I hope the whole community in Northern Ireland will make their own plans to mark this key anniversary.

Councillor Aaron Callan

DUP group leader,

Causeway Coast and Glens