Larne and Glynn cenotaphs to get £25,000 revamp

The move follows disappointment that the council was unable to carry out the work before Remembrance Sunday.

According to a council spokesperson, the work to be carried out at the Glynn memorial includes steam cleaning, repointing with lime mortar and

refurbishment of lettering by a decorative artist.

Meanwhile, the work on the Inver cenotaph will involve “substantial refurbishment works, including stone repairs, specialist poultice cleaning and refurbishment of bronze statuary and plaques.”

The council has applied to the War Memorials Trust to assist with certain elements of the refurbishment, which would provide 70 per cent of the funding for these elements if successful.

The council says it is “procuring a contractor for the work” which is anticipated to take one month once the contractor is on site.

DUP Alderman Gregg McKeen said it was “good the work will finally happen.”

“The Glynn memorial will also have the names from World War 2, whhich are currently on a plaque in the village hall, added to the main memorial as well as those killed in more recent conflicts,” Ald McKeen revealed.

“It will be nice to have them all together and to have both war memorials refurbished. I would have liked to have seen the work carried out before Remembrance Day and in time for the 100th anniversary of the Somme, but it’s better to do it right, we want this to last for another 100 years.”

UUP Councillor Andy Wilson added: “The need, in particular, to refurbish the Cenotaph at Inver Gardens- given the discolouration of the plinth- was identified years ago.

“The project was put on a 3-year Capital Plan last year, with the project cost of £25,000 actually put in a budget line for 2015/16.

“I have kept an eye on this project and whilst the timescale has slipped, I am glad it has been put back on track.

“Many more people have been attending Remembrance Sunday events in recent years possibly due to the centenary of the First World War.

“We will soon have refurbished War Memorials at Larne and the Glynn befitting the sacrifice made by our armed forces.”