St Colmanell’s Parish Ahoghill hosts moving Remembrance Exhibition honouring Wartime Heroes

Love Ballymena
Nov 9, 2025
2 min read

A touching tribute to those who served their country is on display at St Colmanell’s Parish Church, Ahoghill, where a Remembrance Exhibition is running until Tuesday 11 November 2025.

The exhibition has been lovingly created by the church family, featuring hundreds of poppies, wall hangings, floral arrangements, wartime artefacts, secret trench diaries, and stories of local people and unsung heroes.

Visitors can explore a deeply personal collection of displays that not only commemorate those who fought on the front lines, but also celebrate the courage and resilience of those who supported them at home.

The exhibition was launched on Thursday and has been running throughout the Remembrance Sunday weekend, drawing interest from parishioners and visitors alike.

TUV representatives including Party Leader, North Antrim MP Jim Allister, accompanied by Timothy Gaston MLA, Alderman Stewart McDonald and Councillor Christopher Jamieson outside St Collmanell’s Church in Ahoghill

Marking Remembrance Sunday, TUV representatives including Party Leader, North Antrim MP Jim Allister, accompanied by Timothy Gaston MLA, Alderman Stewart McDonald and Councillor Christopher Jamieson attended the exhibition today and praised the efforts of those involved.

Following the visit, North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston said he was “speechless” after exploring the “fantastic” Remembrance Exhibition featuring “thousands of beautifully hand-knitted poppies, alongside remarkable exhibits of uniforms, diaries, and medals — each telling its own story of sacrifice and service.”

Mr Gaston added:

“The exhibition runs until Tuesday. If you have even a passing interest in history, remembrance, or community craftsmanship, make sure you go — you’ll regret it if you miss it.“

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford attended the poignant event on the opening day and commented:

“Well done to everyone at St Colmanell's Parish Church in Ahoghill for preparing this Remembrance Exhibition as a tribute to those who served their country in wartime.

“There are thousands of poppy's on display, wall hangings, floral displays,secret trench diaries and many many wartime items. It really is an amazing exhibition and well worth a visit. The exhibition is running each day from 6th to 11th November.”

“‘We Will Remember Them.’”

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford

The exhibition continues on Monday (10 November) and Tuesday (11 November), with the church open at the following times:

Monday 10 November: 10am–12noon, 2–4pm, 7–9pm
Tuesday 11 November: 10am–12noon

Light refreshments are available in the Parish Hall, with all donations welcome. Proceeds from the exhibition will go towards the Parish Centre Project, with a donation also made to the Royal British Legion.

The event reflects the collaborative spirit of the Ahoghill community, with contributions from all ages, including children from the church’s Kidzone programme.

A spokesperson for the parish said the exhibition had been “beautifully curated by the church family of St Colmanell’s, including the children from the church’s Kidzone programme who have enjoyed preparing.”

Visitors are encouraged to take time to reflect, remember, and appreciate the sacrifices made by generations of servicemen and women.