The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, received HRH The Earl of Wessex, Royal Colonel 2nd Battalion The Rifles, at Thiepval Barracks in Lisburn.

​HRH visited the battalion and took part in a medal presentation ceremony. 

The Princess Royal visited Antrim Castle Gardens, Randalstown Road, Antrim and was received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell. The Lord-Lieutenant then introduced HRH to the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Billy Webb MBE JP, and Chief Executive of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mrs Jacqui Dixon.

HRH toured the gardens, met Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Council staff and local volunteers and then presented the Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens with their Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.

The Lord-Lieutenant was joined by his Lord-Lieutenant Cadet, Cadet Sergeant Major Emma Ellison, of 1st (NI) Bn ACF. 

More information can be found on the Council website here.

​Her Royal Highness then attended a reception at Hillsborough Castle for representatives from the Counties of Northern Ireland. HRH spoke with local healthcare professionals who have been working throughout the pandemic in hospitals and the community. The Lord-Lieutenant was in attendance and presented three volunteers from County Antrim. 

Today the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, KStJ, takes over the role of Knight Commander of Ards, the head of the Order of St John in Northern Ireland. The Commandery of Ards overseas the Order's activities in Northern Ireland, which are primarily focused on St John Ambulance NI. He succeeds the Viscount Brookeborough, KG, KStJ.

​The Commandery of Ards sits within the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John. The Order of St John is a British Order of Chivalry, with HM The Queen as Sovereign Head. HRH The Duke of Gloucester is the Grand Prior.

24th June marks the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist or “St John’s Day”. The Order is dedicated to John the Baptist and it has the motto "Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum", which translates as 'For Faith, For Service to Humanity' and reflects the Order's Christian values. 

The Lord-Lieutenant's appointment as a Knight of St John can be view on the London Gazette by clicking here.

This weekend marked Armed Forces Day in Northern Ireland. Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. 

​The events in Northern Ireland were focused on Carrickfergus this year. Unfortunately COVID19 restrictions meant that events had to be reduced in scale this year.

Despite this, the Antrim Lieutenancy was busy at events across the County. On Friday evening, the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, attended the (38th) Brigade Commander’s supper in Thiepval Barracks Officers’ Mess, Lisburn.

On Saturday the Lord-Lieutenant joined events in Carrickfergus, which included raising the flag, a gun salute and fly past by the Red Arrows. He then enjoyed walking around the display stands of a number of the regular and reserve armed forces.

He was joined by his Lord-Lieutenant Cadet, Cadet Sergeant Major Emma Ellison of 1st (NI) Bn ACF.

Mr Freddie Hall, OBE, QGM, DL, and Mr Danny Kinahan, DL, also represented the Lieutenancy to raise the flag for Armed Forces Day in Lisburn and Newtownabbey respectively. 

Congratulations to the 19 people from County Antrim who were honoured in The Queen's Birthday Honours list released this evening. County Antirm continues to have a high percentage of the honours issued in Northern Ireland. The honours issued are made up of 8 MBEs and 11 BEMs.

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, expressed his hearty congratulations to all the recipients and thanked them for their selfless service to the community and Northern Ireland as a whole.

The full County honours list is as follows:

Order of the British Empire

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
 
Mrs Afaf Abdrabou ALY - Lisburn
 
Chair, Egyptian Society of Northern Ireland. For services to UK-Egypt Relations and Anti-racism in Northern
Ireland (County Antrim).
 
Mr David Alexander BROOKES -Lisburn
 
Civilian Security Officer, Northern Ireland Security and Guarding Service. For services to Defence and to Charity (County Antrim)
 
Ms Margaret Christine DAVIS -Whiteabbey
 
For services to Community Relations in Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
 
Mr David JEFFREY-Newtownabbey
 
Manager, Ballymena Utd. For services to Association Football and Community
Relations in Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
 
Mr Stanley James LEE -Ballymoney
 
For services to People with Learning Difficulties in Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
 
Mrs Marian MCCOUAIG - Ballycastle
 
Principal, Kylemore Nursery School, Coleraine, Ulster. For services to Education (County Antrim)
 
Mrs Angela Eileen REID -Islandmagee
 
For services to Care Home Residents particularly during Covid-19 (County Antrim)
 
Mr John STUART- Ballymena
 
For services to the community in Ballymena, County Antrim (County Antrim)
 
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
 
Miss Lynsey Anne AGNEW-Lisburn
 
For services to the Lisburn Foodbank, especially during the Covid-19 Crisis (County Antrim)
 
Mr Andrew COCHRANE -Ballymena
 
For services to Disability Sport and Mental Health Awareness (County Antrim)
 
Mrs Tracey Yvonne ELLIOTT -Lisburn
 
Manager, Lisburn Unit, St John Ambulance. For voluntary service to St John Ambulance and the community in
Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
 
Mr Thomas David HAIGHTON -Carrickfergus
 
For services to Adults with Learning and Physical Disabilities (County Antrim)
 
Stephen John MCCOY-Toomebridge
 
Fundraiser, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. For services to the community and Charity in Toomebridge, County Antrim
(County Antrim)
 
 Trevor MCKENDRY-Cullybackey
 
Maintenance Foreman, Education Authority, Northern Ireland. For services to Education (County Antrim)
 
Mrs Pamela-Ann NUGENT-Carryduff
 
Personal Secretary, Executive Officer 2, Department of Finance. For services to Men and Boys with Eating Disorders in Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
 
Miss Valerie Elizabeth PEACOCK -Ballymena
 
For services to the Children’s Hospice, Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
 
Anna Rosemary STEELE- Stoneyford
 
For services to Cross Community Relations in Northern Ireland (County Antrim)
 
Mrs Deborah Elizabeth WALKER-Carrickfergus
 
For services to the community in Belfast (County Antrim)
 
Robert Alexander YARR -Upper Ballinderry
 
For services to Church Choral Music in Ballinderry Parish Church (County Antrim)


The full honours list can be viewed on the London Gazette website, by clicking here or copying the following link:

www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63377/supplement/B1

If you know someone worthy of an honour, have a look at our dedicated honours page or do please get in touch.

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, was delighted to receive HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to Lisburn, as part of HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall's two day tour of Northern Ireland. 

HRH visited 2nd Battalion the Rifles (2 Rifles), at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, in her capacity of Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles Regiment. 

The Lord-Lieutenant was accompanied by two of his Lord-Lieutenant Cadets:

Cadet Colour Sergeant Major Emma Ellison
1st (NI) Bn Army Cadet Force, Larne. Arms/Corp Affiliation - Royal Irish Regiment
​
Cadet Sergeant Robert Allen
1st (NI) Bn Army Cadet Force, Carrickfergus. Arms/Corp Affiliation - Royal Engineers

It was also Robert's 18th birthday so HRH joined the Lord-Lieutenant in wishing Robert a very happy birthday. 

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, laid a wreath today in Carrickfergus, and also unveiled a plaque, to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Royal British Legion. He expressed hearty congratulations on reaching this significant milestone and thanked them for all that they do, not just in County Antrim, but throughout the whole of the UK and Ireland.  

​The Lord-Lieutenant was delighted to be joined by his Lord-Lieutenant Cadet, Cadet Sergeant Major Emma Ellison, from 1st (NI) Bn ACF. The Lord-Lieutenant is also Honorary Colonel of 1st (NI) Bn ACF. It has been a very difficult past year for the Lord-Lieutenant Cadets due to the restrictions caused by COVID19.

Also in attendance was Mrs Jackie Stewart, MBE, DL, the local Deputy Lieutenant, and the Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Peter Johnston.

Mrs Jackie Stewart, MBE, DL, presented Mrs Mary Hawthorne, from Larne, with cards from Her Majesty The Queen, and the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, to mark her 105th birthday. Wishing Mary a very, very happy birthday!

The Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Peter Johnston, was also in attendance.

Do you know someone who has a milestone birthday or anniversary that would like to receive a card from HM The Queen? If so, please click here to find out more information.   

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, presented the Ballymoney Branch of the Royal British Legion with their Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The Ballymoney Branch won the QAVS in 2020, but due to COVID19 the presentation was delayed. The QAVS is known as the MBE for volunteers groups.

The Lord-Lieutenant presented the QAVS to the President of the Ballymoney Branch, Major John Pinkerton TD, DL, a retired Deputy Lieutenant of County Antrim. 

The timing was significant as next week see the 100th birthday for the Royal British Legion. It also coincides with the Centenary celebrations of Northern Ireland. 

The Lord-Lieutenant was joined by the High Sheriff of County Antrim, Mrs Sue Pinkerton and the Mayor of Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council. The Mayor also presented with the Branch with a certificate to recognise their 100th birthday.

To mark the centenary of Northern Ireland, Her Majesty The Queen sent a message to the people of Northern Ireland, which can be viewed by clicking here.

The Lieutenancy has also been involved in a number of events across County Antrim:

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, was involved in tree planting and beacon lighting ceremonies in Antrim, Ballymena and Ballymoney, which were organised by the respective Borough Councils.  He also attended a Service of Commemoration organised by Causeway Coast & Glens Council. 

Mrs Jackie Stewart, MBE, DL, also represented the Lieutenancy at a tree planting ceremony in Carrickfergus. 

Please find a selection of images from the events below: