VE Day Celebrations

Donaghadee to Commemorate VE Day with Parade, Service, and Community Displays

Donaghadee will mark the anniversary of VE Day with a special commemoration event on Sunday, May 11th. The day will begin at 1:30pm with a parade from the Marina Car Park to the War Memorial, and local community organisations and individuals are warmly invited to take part.

A short service will follow at 2:00pm, led by Rev Louise McKee, and will include the laying of a wreath by Councillor Alistair Cathcart, Mayor of Ards and North Down.

After the service, the celebrations will continue with a Family Fun Day on the green, featuring children’s crafts and games, a bouncy castle, and light refreshments (while supplies last).

To add to the commemorations, Donaghadee Women’s Institute has organised a Spitfire Trail for young people aged 5 to 15, which will run throughout the month of May.  Entry sheets can be collected from the Library and from shops displaying Spitfires in their windows, with participants invited to spot the aircraft, solve the puzzle and complete the trail at their own pace.

As part of the commemoration, Hunter’s Lane will be transformed with a floral and educational display. Created through the efforts of local groups and individuals, the display includes vibrant window boxes, information panels on influential figures from World War II, personal stories of the 23 local men who lost their lives, and a poignant installation of crocheted poppies.  The display will remain in place until September.

The initiative has been co-ordinated by the Donaghadee Community Development Association (DCDA) and funded by Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Speaking about the project, Denis Waterworth, Chair of the DCDA, said:

“We wanted to do a little more than simply have a one-day event, and the display in Hunter’s Lane seeks to bring together an educational element and a floral tribute. These displays have only been made possible through the co-operation of local residents, the Historical Association, the Community Partnership, and the host of ladies around the town who have spent many hours creating the poppies. The floral displays have been beautifully planned by DCDA stalwarts Liz McWatters and Alison Taylor, and we hope that residents and visitors alike will take the opportunity to walk along the lane and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many 80 years ago.”

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