Mayor, Alderman Stephen Ross and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Leah Smyth are joined by local children to launch the Council’s line up of Coronation Events.
Plans are well underway as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council gets ready for a weekend of celebrations to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort from Friday 5 to Monday 8 May 2023.
From the Big Lunch to Live Screenings of the Coronation Ceremony and Concert, there is lots in store for everyone to come together and celebrate this momentous occasion!
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross welcomed Vice Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mrs Miranda Gordon; Deputy Mayor, Councillor Leah Smyth; Elected Members, community representatives and local school children to Theatre at The Mill to officially launch the upcoming line up of events.
Guests were also able to preview a clip of the Coronation Hymn which will be officially launched over the Coronation Weekend. Composed by Philip Hammond, the hymn involved approximately 450 children from 19 of the Borough’s primary, secondary and special schools and will be a lasting legacy from the Coronation.
Mayor, Alderman Stephen Ross and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Leah Smyth are joined by local children Athena McAuley, Rory Makin, Sophie Cole and Lacey Cole to launch the Council’s line up of Coronation Events.
At the launch event, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross commented:
“We have lots of fantastic events planned to celebrate the first Coronation in over 70 years and the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. I would encourage all of our residents to come together for what will be a weekend to remember.”
Details of the weekend are as follows:
• Friday 5 May
The Coronation Weekend will begin on Friday 5 May at 10am when flags will be raised at Mossley Mill, Antrim Civic Centre and Ballyclare Town Hall. Then in the evening, beacons will be lit by Mayor, Alderman Stephen Ross at Mossley Mill and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Leah Smyth at Antrim Castle Gardens. This will form part of the simultaneous lighting of thousands of beacons across the UK - a long standing tradition for such Royal occasions.
• Saturday 6 May
Come along from 10am until 4pm for some Coronation fun at Antrim Castle Gardens and Jordanstown Loughshore Park where there will be live screenings of the Coronation Ceremony taking place at Westminster Abbey. Please note this is a ticketed event and we recommend you get your tickets early. Tickets are free with a £1.25 booking fee for adults, no fee for children. All proceeds go to the Mayor’s Charities.
(L-R): Clare Patterson, Monkstown Community Association; Deputy Mayor, Councillor Leah Smyth; Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Miranda Gordon DL; Mayor, Alderman Stephen Ross and Coronation Hymn Composer, Philip Hammond pictured at the Coronation Programme launch.
• Sunday 7 May
Pack your picnic and bring your rug to Hazelbank Park and Antrim Lough Shore Park for The Coronation Big Lunch. Taking place from 12-4pm, these events will offer some family fun, with inflatables and walkabout characters.
Later that evening from 6pm, the celebrations will be at Antrim Castle Gardens and Jordanstown LoughshorePark where there will be a live screening of the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle.
‘The Elvis Spectacular’ will be warming up the crowd in Jordanstown Loughshore Park, whilst ‘Qween’ will be working their magic in Antrim. Both events on the Sunday evening will finish with a fantastic fireworks display lighting up the night sky – celebrations fit for a King! This is also a ticketed event and we recommend you get your tickets early.
Tickets are free with a £1.25 booking fee for adults. All proceeds will go to the Mayor’s Charities.
• Monday 8 May
There is lots in store on Monday 8 May, with The Big Help Out which aims to encourage residents to try volunteering through a number of activities such as Spring Clean Ups, Horticultural Projects, Planting of Window Boxes for local villages etc. The Big Help Out aims to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the Coronation Weekend.
For more information on each of the events, including tickets visit: