Northern Ireland

NI centenary prepartions begin

Northern Ireland Office minister Robin Walker
Northern Ireland Office minister Robin Walker Northern Ireland Office minister Robin Walker

Planning has started to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland next year.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the Centenary Forum in August, aimed at finding a way to mark the milestone in a "spirit of mutual respect, inclusiveness and reconciliation".

It includes statutory, political, business, community and civic voices, from a wide range of perspectives and interests.

At the first meeting yesterday, members discussed a range of proposals to "facilitate national recognition and international awareness" of the anniversary, that aims to reflect on the past and look to the future.

The Centenary Historical Advisory Panel, chaired by Queen's University academic Lord Bew, has also started work.

It was set up to provide advice to the forum and government around the historical facts.

The panel also aims to develop and curate content to encourage public awareness of the history of the centenary.

Northern Ireland Office minister Robin Walker said the forum is an opportunity for a broad spectrum of people to come together to design an "ambitious programme of events to mark this significant national anniversary".

Lord Bew stressed it is "important that the centenary is marked in such a way that recognises the historical facts of the period".