Stormont to turn blue for NI parliament’s centenary
Stormont will be illuminated tomorrow night to mark the centenary of the opening of Northern Ireland’s first parliament.
It has come about after an application by TUV leader Jim Allister to have the official opening by King George V commemorated by way of lighting up Stormont.
He said: “The building will be floodlit in blue from sunset tomorrow to celebrate this significant anniversary.
“A century ago Northern Ireland was making plans to welcome our monarch with ‘unparalleled scenes of enthusiasm’, as Major Shillington put it when describing the scenes in an address to the Northern Ireland House of Commons on June 23, 1921.
“Obviously Covid restrictions have curtailed what should otherwise have been large celebrations this year.
“However, the reluctance of the powers-that-be, at the behest of Sinn Fein, to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland in any official way, such as by a visit by Her Majesty the Queen to address the Assembly, is telling and has fed growing unionist frustration in the last few months.
“Though it is a poor substitute at least the centenary will be marked in this small way after my successful application.”
Meanwhile, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has asked for volunteers to help plant 100 decidiuous trees across the borough, to reflect 100 years of Northern Ireland.
The scheme is part of council’s ongoing NI 100 programme.
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