Council Marks 125 Years of the Girls' Brigade

August 24, 2018

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council was pleased to create a commemorative flowerbed at Hillsborough, to mark the 125th Anniversary of the Girls’ Brigade (GB) Northern Ireland.

Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Council’s Leisure & Community Development Committee met Myla, Ellie and Rosie from Dundonald Presbyterian GB at the new flowerbed, which is made of over 7,500 plants.

Alderman Paul Porter said: “It was lovely to meet local members of the Girls’ Brigade at the fabulous flowerbed of the GB badge that has been planted to mark the 125th Anniversary of this uniformed youth organisation.  Our young people are a very important part of our future and I welcome the excellent work that this organisation carries out, helping shape our young people, encouraging them to be responsible adults in terms of developing their communication, social and team-working skills along with their confidence, co-ordination, respect for others and life skills.  With all the pressures of modern society on young people, these skills have never before been so important. 

“The Council is keen to ensure that Hillsborough, which is entered in this year’s Britain in Bloom competition, looks as good as possible.  The Council’s gardening teams’ produce award winning floral displays; and we are delighted that their talent is showcasing such a significant anniversary for the GB at this beautifully depicted badge on the roundabout flowerbed in Hillsborough.  I would like to thank the gardening team that worked painstakingly on this floral creation which will bring wider recognition to the GB in its 125th year,” Alderman Porter concluded.

Girls’ Brigade Northern Ireland is the largest youth organisation in Northern Ireland, reaching thousands of girls between the ages of 3 and 18.  The former Lisburn City Council awarded the Freedom of the City to the GB in 2014 along with other uniformed youth organisations.