Northern Ireland

Prince Harry in north for first official visit

Prince Harry meets ambulace crews during a visit to Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station. Picture by Niall Carson, PA Wire
Prince Harry meets ambulace crews during a visit to Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station. Picture by Niall Carson, PA Wire Prince Harry meets ambulace crews during a visit to Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station. Picture by Niall Carson, PA Wire

Prince Harry has reached out to the next generation of young people during his first official visit to the north.

The 32-year-old met with community groups from nationalist and unionist backgrounds across the island and was praised by his hosts Co-operation Ireland, a charity which has worked for almost 40 years to build a shared and cohesive society within the noth and across the border.

Co-operation Ireland's Chief Executive, Peter Sheridan, said: "Today was about reaching out to the next generation, to the next generation of the Royal Family, the next generation of young people across this island, whatever background they come from."

Harry was applauded as he left Belfast's MAC arts centre where he met community groups working on peace-building and issues like promoting good mental health.

Aodhan Mackin (16) from Ardoyne, a republican district of north Belfast which has been the scene of bitter conflict over past years and decades, said: "Not many people would think to meet the Prince but we did meet him, so it was good, and he was down to earth."

Co-Operation Ireland helped arrange the Queen's first visit to Dublin which was a groundbreaking moment for Anglo-Irish relations.

In 2012 it hosted a historic and highly symbolic handshake between late Sinn Fein deputy first minister and life-long republican Martin McGuinness and the Queen.

Mr Sheridan said Harry's visit was about building on that legacy.

"Here was an opportunity for young people to say what they think about peace-building, about the issues of today, and you could see the connection between them and Prince Harry, who is a young person himself.

"They sat down and had conversations, all of us have prejudices but to be able to sit down and have conversations about things which are of common interest, be it mental health or how we build peace in this place.

"I think it went incredibly well."

He said the humanity of Harry and the young people was outstanding.

Co-Operation Ireland aims to promote dialogue and practical collaboration within Northern Ireland and with the Republic of Ireland.

Harry's father, the Prince of Wales, has made a series of visits to both parts of the island in an effort to promote reconciliation.

Earlier this year he paid tribute to those who fought for Irish freedom in the 1916 Rising, laying a wreath at a memorial to those who died.

Prince Harry meets Emma Mason (second left) and her seven month old son Henry Mason in St Anne's Square, Belfast 
Prince Harry meets Emma Mason (second left) and her seven month old son Henry Mason in St Anne's Square, Belfast  Prince Harry meets Emma Mason (second left) and her seven month old son Henry Mason in St Anne's Square, Belfast 

During is visit, Prince Harry heard about a peace-building initiative which empowers young people across Northern Ireland to become ambassadors for peace within their communities, as well as details of Northern Ireland's national citizenship service.

Earlie today, the prince opened a £5.6 million Northern Ireland Ambulance Service station in Ballymena, Co Antrim, and watch demonstrations of emergency responses.

He will conclude his visit with a garden party at the Queen's official residence in Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle.

Prince Harry meets a range of range of youth organisations at The MAC in Belfast 
Prince Harry meets a range of range of youth organisations at The MAC in Belfast  Prince Harry meets a range of range of youth organisations at The MAC in Belfast 

Harry arrived at the Ballymena Ambulance Station to a warm welcome from dozens of ambulance staff as well as local representatives, including North Antrim MP Ian Paisley.

As news of the visit spread, a small crowd gathered outside the building as locals sought to catch a glimpse of the royal. Undeterred by the rain, they snapped photos of the prince and applauded.

Inside the station, the prince shook hands and chatted with ambulance service staff, who gave him a tour of the facilities and demonstration of their equipment.

Prince Harry laughed and joked with crew, at one point spinning round one member of crew who hung from the ceiling on a wire, demonstrating a cliff rescue.

Prince Harry jokes with Ivan Kenny by spinning him around as he is using climbing equipment in a display, during his visit to Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station 
Prince Harry jokes with Ivan Kenny by spinning him around as he is using climbing equipment in a display, during his visit to Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station  Prince Harry jokes with Ivan Kenny by spinning him around as he is using climbing equipment in a display, during his visit to Ballymena Northern Division HQ and Ambulance Station 

He unveiled a plaque to officially open the ambulance station.

As he left, North Antrim MP Ian Paisley led a chorus of "hip hip hooray" in celebration of the visit.

Mr Paisley said: "This is a very significant event as it's his first event in Northern Ireland. I'm honoured that he's chosen to come to North Antrim to do so."

Harry later met young people from nationalist and unionist backgrounds at the MAC centre event in Belfast.