Ballycarry Remembers Belfast Blitz Victims 85 Years After Devastating 1941 Air Raids

A special remembrance ceremony has taken place in Ballycarry to honour local victims of the Belfast Blitz, 85 years after the deadly 1941 air raids. Community leaders, school pupils and residents gathered at the War Memorial and Templecorran Cemetery to remember those who lost their lives.

Ballycarry Pays Tribute To Belfast Blitz Victims

Residents in Ballycarry gathered on Tuesday 5 May to remember the victims of the Belfast Blitz, marking 85 years since the devastating air raids that claimed hundreds of lives across Northern Ireland during World War Two.

The commemorative event took place at the War Memorial in Ballycarry, where tributes were paid to local men, women and children who were killed during the attacks in 1941.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, joined members of the Ballycarry and Whitehead communities for the ceremony alongside the Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim, David McCorkell KSt.J, and representatives from the Whitehead Royal British Legion.

Wreaths were laid beneath the section of the memorial dedicated to Blitz victims, creating a poignant reminder of the civilian lives lost during one of the darkest chapters in Northern Ireland’s wartime history.

Ballycarry Primary School Pupils Join Remembrance Ceremony

Pupils from Ballycarry Primary School also played a key role in the remembrance event by laying poppy crosses on the graves of the Hutchinson and McCready families at Templecorran Cemetery.

The ceremony highlighted the personal stories behind the tragedy, including the devastating loss suffered by the Hutchinson family during the Belfast Blitz air raid on 16 April 1941.

Speaking during the event, Councillor Jackson Minford said:

“In this 85th anniversary year of the Blitz, we wanted to commemorate here at Ballycarry, where the poignant reminder of the loss is so strongly reflected.

“At the grave of the Hutchinson family there are six family members buried after being killed during the 16 April 1941 air raid.

“William and Sarah Hutchinson and their children Lily, Sadie, Rita, Martin and May are resting in Templecorran Cemetery. As a community we have come together and stand for several generations to remember those from the Mid and East Antrim area.”

Youngest And Oldest Victims Remembered

Among those remembered was two-year-old May Hutchinson, believed to have been one of the youngest victims of the Belfast Blitz.

Also honoured was John McCready, aged 85, who was among the oldest of the 987 people killed during the air raids.

Rev. Nigel Kirkpatrick of St John’s Parish Church officiated during the service and reflected on the lasting impact the Belfast Blitz continues to have on communities across Northern Ireland.

He said the graves at Templecorran Cemetery remain a powerful reminder of the civilian cost of war and conflict, even 85 years later.

The Lasting Legacy Of The Belfast Blitz

The Belfast Blitz remains one of the most significant wartime events in Northern Ireland’s history. German air raids in April and May 1941 caused widespread devastation across Belfast and surrounding areas, killing nearly 1,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Many families across County Antrim and beyond continue to remember loved ones lost during the attacks, with annual commemorations helping preserve their memory for future generations.

The Ballycarry remembrance ceremony served as both a tribute to those who died and a reminder of the resilience shown by communities during wartime.