60th Anniversary
The 60th anniversary is of the Charter of Incorporation to the town, thus creating the Urban District of Carrickfergus a Municipal Borough. This was granted to the then Town Clerk, Mr Thomas McVea on 30 May 1949. At 12.00 noon on Friday, 1 July 1949 the Inaugural Meeting of the Borough Council took place when the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were elected. You can view the commemorative edition of Compass Magazine with the timeline of the last 60 years and key projects for the future.
In 1841-2 Carrickfergus was deprived of its old Corporation, with all of its medieveal grandeur, by the Municipal Corporation Act passed in 1840. All the powers of 'the body politic of the borough' - i.e. the Mayor, Sheriffs, Burgesses and Commonality duties were dissolved.
All these positions were no longer to be held. It was to be 1949 before these positions were reinstated.
The powers and duties were now vested under the provisions of the 1840 Act, in the newly elected Municipal Commissioners. The Commissioners also had control over the Corporate property. The Municipal Commissioners held their meetings quarterly .
1843 - 23rd November 1843
The first members of the Municipal Commissioners were elected - 18 members.
Chairman - William Burleigh
Town Clerk & Solicitor - David Legg
Treasurer - Henry Adair
Harbour Master - James Stannus
Ballast Master - Alexander Jones
Peter Kirk, John Legg, James Barnett, John Coates, Paul Logan, John McGowan, Samuel Davis Stewart, William Walker, Daniel Blair, Richard Battersby, James Cowan, Alexander Johns, William Kirk Martin, Stephen Richard Rice, Richard Thompson, James Wilson, Russel Ker Bowman.
Carrickfergus had for centuries been known as a County in its own right - The County of the Town of Carrickfergus - with its own court and jurisdiction.
In 1898, by the Irish Local Government Act - The County of the Town of Carrickfergus was abolished and merged into County Antrim. By the same act, the Board of Municipal Commissioners was dissolved and the duties taken over by an Urban District Council consisting of 18 members.
Monday 16 January 1899, the first elections under the provisions of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 was held in the Town Hall (the Market House in Market Place). There were originally to be 20 members (each representing 500 electors) but amended to 18.
Under the former franchise the qualification to vote was limited to persons with a rating of £10 and upwards; under the new Act, all those who paid rates were entitled to vote.
The first elected members of the Carrickfergus Urban District Council were:
Chairman - Thomas Vint
James Logan, Robert A Carnaghan, Alexander Miscampbell, Charles M. Legg, William Gorman, William Byrtt, Austin Cornwall, Edward Davy, Arthur B Francis, John Hagan, John Patterson, Thomas Jack, Walter Carruth, David Black, James McCullough, Paul Rodgers, Henry McCavana.
In 1926, under an amendment to the Municipal Corporation Act (Northern Ireland) 1926, Carrickfergus became an Urban District Council, appointing Urban District Councillors.
In March 1949, the Carrickfergus Urban District Council decided to Petition the Government for a grant of a Charter of Incorporation creating the Urban District Council into a Municipal Borough. The petition had to be signed by at least one fourth of the local Government electors within the Urban District requesting the Council to present the petition through the Ministry of Health and Local Government for Northern Ireland to the Governor of Northern Ireland.
The Petition was approved by His Excellency, the Governor of Northern Ireland, at a meeting of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland held at Government House, Hillsborough, Co Down on the 16th day of May 1949.
Letter dated 30 May 1949 - "From the Ministry of Health and Local Government, handing to Councils Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Northern Ireland granting a Charter of Incorporation to the Carrickfergus Urban District Council as a Borough from 1st July next".
Friday 1 July 1949 - 1st meeting of the Borough Council of Carrickfergus "Our ancient dignity has been restored to us after a lapse of 107 years". Carrickfergus was reinstated as a Borough with powers to elect a Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors.
Thomas J Patterson J.P. was elected Mayor
William McCullough J.P. was elected Deputy Mayor
Alderman:- W. McCullough, J.P., D. Blair, J. Laird, W.E. McCartney, T. Faulkner, J.C. McQuitty,
Councillors:- T.J. Patterson J.P., J. Baird, M. Gillespie, J. McCallion, H. Millar, D. M. Rea, G. Holmes, H. McFarland, T. Hunter,
Town Clerk: Thomas McVea
Following the meeting, the Mayor hosted a luncheon for over 230 distinguished guests in the Town Hall.
Post War Industrial and Municipal Developments (Timeline)
1947 Jeremiah Ambler - manufacturer of wool/worsted yarns, took over Barn Mills from the war work manufacturing parachutes and decoy dummies.
1948 Messrs Courtalds Ltd arrived in Carrickfergus - site work commenced.
1951 Production commenced for the manufacture of man made fibres - rayon. This factory was to offer large-scale employment to the local community.
1950 rickfergus Hospital opened on the site of 'The Barn Cottage' former home of the McFerran family owners of the Barn Mills factory.
1961 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Carrickfergus
1963 ICI - Imperial Chemicals Industries - set up a new factory site at Kilroot, manufacturing polyester and polypropylene yarns. This factory attracted employment from all over the province.
1964 Carreras/Rothmans established a factory at Seapark to manufacture cigarettes and tobacco products. Again this offered large-scale employment. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, accompanied by her husband Lord Snowdon officially opened the factory during their visit to the factory on Thursday 25th May 1967.
Late 1960's to 1967 The Marine Highway was constructed to give better road access, but physically cut off the Medieval Castle from the Town Centre. It also provided a paved walkway from Carrickfergus Castle to Fisherman's Quay. It was officially opened on 8th July 1967.
1967-87 Carrickfergus Gasworks (opened 1855) stopped making gas from coal in 1967 and closed down in 1987.
2002 The old gasworks site opened as FLAME - the Gasworks Museum of Ireland, being the only town gasworks site left in Ireland.
1971 Carrickfergus Harbour Extension (west pier) officially opened by Lord Grey of Naunton, Governor of Northern Ireland.
1972 The Marine Gardens were laid out parallel to the Marine Highway along the seafront. It combined a landscape garden area, children's play area and a clock tower. It was officially opened on 26th June 1972.
1973 Northern Ireland Local Government Act 1973 - Carrickfergus Borough expanded to take in Whitehead which had previously been under the jurisdiction of Whitehead Urban District Council and Greenisland which had been under the jurisdiction of Larne Rural District Council. Carrickfergus Borough Council would now elect 17 councillors to serve.
1980 Carrickfergus Leisure Centre opened for business on 28th May 1980.
1981 Courtaulds closed their factory - Third World countries could now produce man made fibres cheaper than their mentors.
1981 ICI closed their factory due to world markets producing cheaper fibres. Both factory sites were left derelict but were soon developed into small units for letting to small businesses.
Mid 1980's Carreras Tobacco/Cigarette factory closed due to the drop in demand for tobacco products
1984 The Andrew Jackson Centre, Boneybefore, was opened as part of the Ulster-American Heritage Trail to commemorate Andrew Jackson, 7th President of USA, whose parents emigrated from here in 1765.
1985 Carrickfergus Marina opened on 1st April 1985 with 300 berths.
1987 10th October - visit by Prince Andrew, Duke of York, to take photographs of Carrickfergus Castle for the The Royal Mail new edition high value stamps
1990's Carrickfergus Castle underwent a programme of refurbishment removing the display of artefacts belonging to the former Irish Cavalry Regiments. New costumed figures were placed around the castle depicting historic events from the Castle's past.
The Town Hall site was extensively renovated internally including a new Mayor's Parlour.
The old Ordnance Stores to the rear of the Town Hall were converted on the north side into "The Knight Ride Centre" telling the story of Carrickfergus' turbulent past. On the south side, it was converted into potential office and retail units.
2004 Carrickfergus Museum opened together with new Council offices as 'Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre'.
Housing Developments
Late 1940's, 1950's & 1960's - Housing was urgently needed to house the workers for the new factories. The Northern Ireland Housing Trust began an extensive building programme on the old Army Camp at Sunnylands and Victoria Road. In the late 1940's, provision was made for the erection of aluminium bungalows at Taylor's Avenue, Fairymount and Eden (Orlits). Lands were developed at Greenisland and Whitehead to meet the demand for homes in the area.
1970's/90's The Northern Ireland Housing Executive developments were commenced at Glenfield, Oakfield, Woodlands and Northlands and in Greenisland. Private developments were also happening throughout the Borough.
Education
Post War: there was a programme for the construction of new schools and modernisation and improvement of existing schools in the district.
Carrickfergus Councillors appealed for priority to be given to the town due to the expanding population and urgent need for educational facilities.
The Carrickfergus Technical School was established in the former home of the John's family at Joymount Court.
Carrickfergus Grammar School was built on the site of 'Thornfield House', the former home of the Kirk family, on the North Road.
Carrickfergus Intermediate (Carrick College) was built on an adjoining site at North Road.
New primary schools were also built at Sunnylands, Central, Model, Woodburn, Victoria, Woodlawn, Oakfield, Mount St Nicholas
Greenisland - Greenisland and Silverstream PS
Whitehead - Whitehead and Lourdes PS
1960's Downshire Community School
1990's Acorn Integrated Primary School & Ulidia Integrated College
Sport
Carrickfergus has a long tradition of sporting activities:
1964 Carrick Rangers Football Club won the Irish Cup Trophy
1997 Marina hosted the World Optimist Dinghy Championships
2004 Carrickfergus hosted some of the Special Olympics Games Contestants
Leisure Developments / Events
Annual music festival held in Town Hall
1963 'Son et Lumiere' - sound and light show in Carrickfergus Castle telling the history of the Norman Castle and town.
1980 800th anniversary of the founding of the town.
1980's 'Back Carrick Week' - fun and entertainment programme and Carrickfergus took part in the television programme 'It's a Knockout' staged in the Harbour Car Park.
1990 June - Tercentenary (300th) anniversary of King William III landing in Carrickfergus - re-enactment and pageant and unveiling of statue of King William III in Quay Lane.
1990-1996 Carrickfergus Classic Sail - at its height, would have attracted 100,000 people over a ten day period.
2005 Outdoor theatre first introduced in Shaftesbury Park.
2007 BBC Proms in the Park hosted by Carrickfergus Borough Council. The first-time the event was ever held outside of Belfast and attracted the largest ever crowds to the event.
Archaeological Excavations
1970's Extensive excavations were undertaken under the leadership of Dr Tom Delaney (QUB) and his team including the sites at Joymount and High Street.
1990's Further excavations were conducted under Ruairi Baoill and his team, including sites in West Street and Lancasterian Street. Many artefacts from these digs are on display in Carrickfergus Museum. Today any new building work within the Town Centre must have an archaeological survey carried out on the site.
MAYORS CHAIN
Mr Alexander Miscampbell, who had long established family links to the town, and was Managing Director of Imperial Chemicals Industries (ICI Salt Division) Limited in Liverpool, contacted the Council offering his firm's wish to present a Mayoral Chain in the event of the Charter of Incorporation being granted in 1949.
The magnificent Mayoral Gold Chain was designed with a central pendant based on the Carrickfergus Town Seal depicted in beautiful enamels. In addition, the other town seals were also designed in enamels with the gold links and gold discs. The engraving on the back of the pendant reads 'This Mayoral Chain was presented to Carrickfergus by Imperial Chemicals Industries Ltd. (Salt Division) on the inauguration of the Borough - 1st July 1949'. Sharman D. Neill Ltd, 36 Donegall Place, Belfast, supplied the Chain.
MAYOR'S PARLOUR
In 1935, the Urban District Council moved from the Market House, Market Square, to the former courthouse building which was converted into the present Town Hall. In July 1949, Messrs. Courtaulds Ltd offered to provide new furnishings for the Mayor's Parlour. They manufactured and supplied beautiful heavy gold brocade curtains copied from historic patterns and carpet.
COMMON SEAL OF CARRICKFERGUS
The ancient common seal of Carrickfergus was adopted for use by the Borough Council as its official seal.
TOWN MOTTO
'Gloria Prisca Novatur' - The Glory of Old Made New
For further information please contact:
Nuala Dalcz
Telephone: 028 9336 6666
E-Mail: marketing@carrickfergus.org
