Minutes of meeting of the Licensing Committee of 17th and 22nd October, 2012
Minutes:
The Committee was informed that a request had been received from the Ulster Covenant and Historical Society to have a cross exhibition at the East Entrance area of the City Hall followed by a short act of remembrance at the Cenotaph to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War. The Society was a non-profit making organisation and encouraged membership from across both communities. Although focussing on the 36th Ulster Division, it sought to encourage debate and advance knowledge of the religious and cross-community composition of the 36th and the parallels between it and the 16th Irish Division. In addition to researching and promoting the history of Ireland at the turn of the 20th Century, it was also involved in keeping alive the memory of those who had fought in World War One. It also had a special affiliation with the Battle of the Somme.
The Democratic Services Manager reported that, to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, the Society was putting together an exhibition of crosses. On each cross would be listed the names of soldiers from the island of Ireland who had died during the First World War and who were commemorated in both the City and Milltown Cemeteries. In total there were 403 names, 298 of who were commemorated at the City and 105 at the Milltown Cemetery. Each cross would have 10 names with an abbreviation of the regiment in which the person served. No ranks were shown and apart from shamrocks and poppies there were no other symbols on the crosses. For display purposes the crosses would be mounted on 3 boards which were 1 metre square.
The organisers of the exhibition would like to display the crosses in the East Entrance of the City Hall for one day and then, the following day, move them to the Cenotaph area where there would be a short act of remembrance. The exact dates of the exhibition were not known at this stage but could be during the month of June. The exhibition would be promoted through the Society’s own website. It also expected a lot of media interest because of the significance of the event and because there were many interesting stories about some of the names listed. A separate request might be made for the Lord Mayor to launch the exhibition and provide a small reception in the Parlour. In addition, the organisers had also approached the Parks and Leisure Department about having the crosses displayed at both the City and Milltown cemeteries.
The Democratic Services Manager pointed out that, again, such requests would normally be referred to the Joint Group of the Party Leaders’ Forum and Historic Centenaries Working Group but due to the fact that that group would not meet prior to the event it was necessary for the matter to be placed before the Committee for decision.
The Committee approved the request for the use of the East Entrance of the City Hall and the Cenotaph as outlined.