Latest news with #EmmaLittlePengelly
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Hillsborough ‘Castlemen' parade at full strength for first time since 1890
The UK's oldest private ceremonial military regiment has paraded at full strength for the first time in more than 130 years. Thirteen new warders of the Hillsborough Fort Guard, which dates back to 1660, were presented with their warrants at a special ceremony in the Co Down village on Saturday. The guard paraded in the village at an event attended by deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood and Lord Lieutenant for Co Down Gawn Rowan Hamilton. It is the first time the guard, which carries out ceremonial duties at Hillsborough Castle, the royal residence in Northern Ireland, has been at its full complement of 20 warders since 1890. The guard was created in the 17th century when a royal warrant was first issued by Charles II but went into decline in the 20th century when no new warders were recruited. For several years, only the bugler was left to carry on ceremonial duties until 2021 when the Marquess of Downshire issued warrants for six new warders as part of the reformation of the fort guard. With a further 13 warrants issued, the final restoration sees the guard, whose members are known as the 'Castlemen', return to its full original strength of 20 warders. Hundreds of people turned out to see the investiture parade at Hillsborough Fort. The programme for the event included a letter from the King passing on his 'warmest good wishes to all of those who are present for a memorable event'. Bugler Andrew Carlisle said it was a special day for the village with strong royal connections. He said: 'For the first time in over 130 years the guard at Hillsborough Fort is parading at full strength of 20 as per the royal warrant of 1660 which was given to the Hill family, making them the hereditary constable of the fort. 'It is a fantastic day for Hillsborough, a historic day for the village. 'We are probably the first guard to actually parade through the village headed by the constable, as far as we can tell that has never happened before. It is a very proud moment.' Mr Carlisle has been a member of the guard for 20 years and said it has not been easy to get to the point where it has been returned to full strength. He said: 'Maintaining a private, legal army in Northern Ireland has its ups and downs, but it has been worth it. 'When you see the 20 guys on parade, the colour and the history and the passion that these guys have put in, we do this voluntarily. 'It is a unique thing for the village, this has to survive, it is not what we do now, it is the gift we give on to the next generation that this survives.' He added: 'This journey has been at least 12 years in the making. It is a very proud day. 'We are indebted to the people that have got behind us, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Tourism NI both were a huge help in funding our new uniforms. 'A lot of our funding also comes from private donors and the village and the community. 'This is a Hillsborough story, it always will be a Hillsborough story and we genuinely want the village to be proud and get behind it.' One of the 13 new warders is Trevor Hill, who is the fourth generation of his family connected to the Hillsborough Fort Guard. He said: 'We are unique. We are the only and longest-running private militia guard in the history of the United Kingdom and all-Ireland. 'This year we are in our 365th year of existence.' He added: 'It is a wonderful piece of history, it is unique to Northern Ireland and the UK. 'It is more now a ceremonial role as opposed to a guarding role and I think it is very important to keep that history alive.' MP for the area Ms Eastwood said it was a 'special day' for Hillsborough. She added: 'I know some of the people who were getting their investiture today and I know the service they have given to their community over many, many years and the real passion they have. 'Today is about consolidating Hillsborough as a destination for tourism. We are very proud of what we have here in the village, it is a very unique offering. 'All of us who are Lisburn born and bred will know the links over many years, with this being the only location on the island of Ireland with a royal palace and still retained as the King's official residence. 'There is a brand new generation coming through who don't know that history and part of today is linked to that tourism offering.'
BreakingNews.ie
27-05-2025
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
O'Neill urges for Irish citizens in north to have vote in presential elections
Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O'Neill has urged the Taoiseach to 'rectify an anomaly' by allowing Irish citizens in Northern Ireland to vote in presidential elections. It comes after the Northern Ireland Assembly voted last month to back extending the right to vote in elections for president of Ireland to all Irish citizens on the island of Ireland. Advertisement The motion, proposed by Sinn Féin MLAs, was passed by 46 votes to 25. It comes just months ahead of the next Irish presidential election due to take place later this year following the end of Michael D Higgins' term. Ms O'Neill was asked by Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney during Executive Office questions on Tuesday for the assessment of the motion by the office she shares with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. First Minister Michelle O'Neill with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms O'Neill replied: 'There is no agreed position on this issue.' Advertisement Mr Kearney went on to ask whether Ms O'Neill agreed that the extension of voting rights in Irish presidential elections for Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland 'should be taken forward as a matter of priority by this Irish government'. Ms O'Neill said that was her personal view on the issue, adding that she has written to Taoiseach Micheál Martin. 'I think the outcome of that debate and the vote that was put in this Assembly chamber certainly was decisive in terms of the support of the elected members of this chamber in terms of voting in the presidential election,' she said. 'This is obviously my personal view on this, but I actually took the time then to actually write to the Taoiseach to inform them of the fact that this was something that was endorsed here in this Assembly chamber, and I think that it's time for the Irish government to certainly correct what has been a deficit in terms of our democratic right to vote in this election. Advertisement 'And I think that we encourage, and continue to encourage, that the Taoiseach moves to rectify what is an anomaly in terms of our citizens in the north – the fact that you can stand for election in the north, but you can't vote in that election. 'I don't think that's a tenable or credible argument. 'It is 12 years beyond the constitutional convention that was held when participants at that convention overwhelmingly endorsed the extension of this franchise, and now the majority view in this house is that this is something that needs to be endorsed in terms of the extension to citizens who live here in the north.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Northern Ireland a 'unique gateway' for trade
Northern Ireland remains a "unique gateway" for trade under the UK government's new deal with the European Union, the business secretary has said. Jonathan Reynolds was speaking during a reception at Westminster for Northern Ireland businesses. The government on Monday announced a new agreement with Brussels which will reduce post-Brexit checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Reynolds said the deal, which includes an agreement on agri-food products, would mean "fewer checks and less red tape". When the UK left the EU, Northern Ireland remained part of the EU single market for goods to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. It led to new checks and paperwork for products arriving from Great Britain - what became known as an 'Irish Sea border'. The new deal involves the UK agreeing to align with EU rules on agri-food, meaning NI and GB will return to following the same set of rules. It should mean no physical checks on GB food products at NI ports, but customs declarations will still be needed. As well as fewer checks, Reynolds said the deals will "still protect Northern Ireland's position as a unique gateway for the sale of goods to the EU and the rest of the UK." "We don't underestimate how important that is," he said. "And we want to make sure businesses can use it to their full advantage." The event on Wednesday was also attended by Northern Ireland's First and Deputy First Ministers Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, and Secretary of State Hilary Benn. Speaking at the event, O'Neill said she wanted to "maximise the opportunities that we have, not least the fact that we have dual market access". The Sinn Féin deputy leader said the "devil is still going to be in the detail" of the UK government's new deal with the EU. But she said businesses she had spoken to "very much welcome" that an agri-food deal was "up there in terms of priorities". Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said there was "more to be done" to ease trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. "Particularly in relation to customs, for example, veterinary medicines outstanding," she added. "So there's number of key barriers to that internal UK trade that is so important to Northern Ireland." The reception was organised by Trade NI - an alliance of the business groups Hospitality Ulster, Retail NI and Manufacturing NI. They described it as a "vital opportunity" to discuss the "key concerns of the business community with national political decision-makers". Glyn Roberts from Retail NI said there were many challenges for businesses. "The National Insurance increases have had a severe impact in Northern Ireland," he said. "We have a higher density of small businesses, independent retailers. "Dealing with this 'cost of doing business' crisis is a key challenge for government here and indeed government at Stormont." New deal reverses ban on some plants grown in GB being sold in NI UK-EU deal on Irish Sea border could 'lower food prices' UK-EU deal moves us on from Brexit rows, Starmer says The new UK-EU deal at a glance
BreakingNews.ie
14-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Immense potential of former Maze site needs to be unlocked – O'Neill
The 'immense' potential of the site of the former Maze prison needs to be unlocked, Michelle O'Neill has said. The First Minister was speaking during a visit to the Balmoral Show, which takes place at Balmoral Park near Lisburn, which occupies the site of the former prison. Advertisement Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly stressed that the site could only be developed when political consensus is reached. What remains of the former Maze prison is on the site near Lisburn. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Plans to develop the grounds in Co Antrim, which held scores of paramilitary prisoners during the Troubles, have not progressed in several years. While some of the site has been utilised for the annual agriculture show and by the Air Ambulance charity and the Ulster Aviation Society, a large part of the grounds – including where the former prison buildings stand – remains derelict. The DUP blocked plans to build a peace centre at the Maze in 2013 over claims it would become a 'shrine to terrorism'. Advertisement The former prison only comprises part of the 347-acre site that falls under the remit of the Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation, established in 2011. Ms O'Neill said the 'social, economic and reconciliation potential of the site is immense'. She said: 'You only have to look at this event. It brings people from all quarters who come together to celebrate something fabulous about our society. 'I think the potential of this site is something that we need to unlock. Advertisement 'Obviously that is only going to happen with a political agreement. 'I hope we can get to that point. Certainly, I am determined to try and get us to that point.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the site would only be developed with political consensus. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'Ultimately the site will move forward with consensus. 'That consensus will have to be obtained before it can move forward. Advertisement 'But we have got some great organisations here on the site. 'We are right beside the Air Ambulance, they have set up here and been here for a number of years. 'We are working with them looking at the possibility of a permanent presence here. 'The Ulster Aviation Society, absolutely fantastic, I have worked quite closely with them, a really great collection attracting many, many thousands of visitors every year. Advertisement Ireland Campaigner seeks urgent action to address lack of... Read More 'And of course the show and other activities that happen here as well at the Eikon Centre. 'There is a lot of really good things that are happening, sometimes people do talk that down too much, but I am here to really be a champion for them.' More than 100,000 people are expected to visit the site over the next four days of the Balmoral Show.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Emma Little-Pengelly says it's important abuse is tackled
The Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said it is "incredibly important" that abuse against politicians is tackled after a man was prosecuted for threatening to kill Thomas Curragh, 34, of Whincroft Road in Belfast, last week pleaded guilty to a charge brought against him through the 2023 Online Safety had previously been convicted of attacking the office of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Joanne week a court hearing heard Curragh had sent a message to Little-Pengelly via the social media platform X "which conveyed a threat of death or harm". The legislation the charge was brought through makes platforms including social media legally responsible for protecting people in the UK from illegal content and content that disproportionately affects women and girls. 'Important' matter Speaking in the assembly on Monday, Little-Pengelly said she was pleased that there had been a prosecution and that Curragh would be sentenced shortly."It is incredibly important the courts take these matters seriously, it requires all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder to say it's wrong," she added."I don't want any woman or girl to face abuse online to the point they don't want to get into politics or rather step back."
