Antrim Lieutenancy
The Lord-Lieutenant
Mr David McCorkell
Mr David McCorkell, was appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim in June 2019, succeeding Mrs Joan Christie, CVO, OBE. He became His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, with HM The King in Newtownabbey, May 2023 (Image: ANBC)
David was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for County Antrim in 2014. He was elected as the Association of Lord-Lieutenants Regional Chairman for Northern Ireland in 2022 and represents them on the London Council.
David took up office on the 29 June 2019. Lord-Lieutenants are appointed by the Crown by Letters Patent under the Great Seal. David’s Letters Patent were dated the 16 July 2019 and were enrolled in the Central Office of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland on 20 November 2019, as can be seen in the London Gazette Appointment Notice.
Previous employment
David was an Investment Manager by profession and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment. He retired in 2017 after over thirty years of service within Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC, where he was a Board Director and Head of Investment Management. David also served as a Member of the Quality Assurance Committee of the Chartered Accountants Regulatory Board, Ireland.
Prior to working in investment, David was a farmer and worked for a family business in Northern Ireland.
Public Service and Associated with the Armed Forces
During the 1970s he served in the TA in D Squadron the Royal Yeomanry (North Irish Horse).
David retains a close association with the armed forces; he was appointed a Vice President of RFCA NI on appointment as Lord-Lieutenant and President of 817 (Lisburn) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets, in May 2020, and President of the Army Cadet Charitable Trust Northern Ireland in 2024. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of 1st (NI) Bn ACF in August 2020. He is also a Trustee of the North Irish Horse Museum Collection.
He had a long involvement in the governance of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), the Armed Forces Charity, serving two terms as a Trustee and Member of the SSAFA Council in London and as the Regional Chairman for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland from 2016-2022.
In terms of his other charity interests, he was appointed a Knight of The Order of St John (KStJ) in March 2021. He then succeeded The Viscount Brookeborough, KG, as the Knight Commander of the Commandery of Ards, The Order of St John, in June 2021. The Commandery of Ards oversees the work of St John in Northern Ireland. He is also a Trustee of the Church of Ireland (NI) and a former Director of the Irish Grouse Conservation Trust.
Away from Public life...
Away from his public life, David has a keen interest in sport. He is an elected Member of the Turf Club (Ireland) and Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee. In January 2020, he was appointed as a Board Member of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) and as a Steward of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHS). Additionally, he was a former Committee Member of Down Royal Racecourse and the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders. Other interests include genealogy and military history.
He lives in Lisburn and is married to Sue, who grew up in County Offaly, and has two adult children. His father was Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry from 1975-2000.
History of Lieutenancy
The office of Lord-Lieutenant is of military origin and can be said to date back to the reign of Henry VIII…
Roles and responsibilities
The Lord-Lieutenant is His Majesty’s personal representative for the County. Their primary duty is to…
Uniform, Badges and Etiquette
The Lord-Lieutenant wears a dark blue No. 1 dress that was established in 1950. It is similar to that of a Major-General…