The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, and Mrs Julia Shirley, DL, represented the Lieutenancy at ceremonies to raise the red ensign for Merchant Navy Day in Larne and Newtownabbey respectively.
The ceremonies were organised by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council and Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council and attended by their respectives Mayors and other representatives from the Councils.
In Larne, other special guests included Northern Ireland Executive Junior Minister Gordon Lyons MLA and the Port of Larne Harbour Master, Mr Stuart Wilson. The flag-raising ceremony took place and messages were read by the Lord-Lieutenant from the Earl of Wessex and the Admiral The Right Honourable The Lord West of Spithead GCB, DSC, PC.
The annual event supports a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag to be flown on public buildings and landmark flagpoles.
