Northern Ireland Office

Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have visited Glenarm at the beginning of a one day visit to Northern Ireland.

Arriving at Glenarm Harbour Master’s Office, Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed by Mrs Joan Christie OBE, The Lord-Lieutenant of CountyAntrim and The Rt Hon Viscount and Viscountess Dunluce who accompanied Their Royal Highnesses during the engagement.

During a tour of the Harbour TRH had the opportunity to meet staff who work on the salmon farms and discuss the re-launch of Glenarm Organic Salmon.

In the near-by Community Hall TRH met around 25 people from local community groups including representatives of the Village Committee, Building Preservation Trust and members of the local Churches.

Continuing the tour of the village which can trace its history back to the 12^th Century, Their Royal Highnesses visited the Post Office where Mr William Pullins, Postmaster, explained to the Royal Visitors the services provided to the community.

Set in the surroundings of a traditional CountyAntrim streetscape TRH had an opportunity to visit a local jewellery workshop where owners Mr and Mrs Bill and Christina Steenson were on hand to show a range of locally produced gold and silver pieces. 

Their Royal Highnesses left the village by car and travelled to GlenarmCastle which is set in a 17^th Century deer park and makes up one of Northern Irelands most important historical landscapes.

Inside the castle, TRH met Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle CBE, Northern Ireland Trustee of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust.

His Royal Highness also joined other guests in a round table discussion on appropriate village regeneration for Glenarm and the village committee’s vision for the future.

During the visit to the castle HRH The Duchess of Cornwall was hosted by Lady Dunluce and undertook private engagements.

Before bringing the engagement to a close TRH had the opportunity to meet staff from the Glenarm Estate and sign the visitors’ book.

Notes to Editor

On arrival TRH were greeted by Mrs Joan Christie OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of CountyAntrim and went on to meet:

Mr Nigel Dobbs, Sheriff for CountyAntrim,

Councillor Bobby McKee, Mayor, Larne Borough Council,

Mrs Geraldine McGahey, Chief Executive, Larne Borough Council,

Mr Sammy Wilson MP MLA, Member of Parliament for East Antrim,

and

Mr Stephen Peover, Permanent Secretary, Department of the Environment.

More information about GlenarmCastle can be found at: www.glenarmcastle.com