NIFRS Honoured With Freedom Of The Borough

The Ards and North Down Borough Council has bestowed its highest honour, the Freedom of the Borough, upon the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS).

The formal conferment ceremony took place on Saturday, October 12th, at the City Hall in Bangor Castle. The event was attended by dignitaries, including the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the Minister of Health, local politicians, and NIFRS firefighters.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Cllr Alistair Cathcart, officiated at the ceremony, recognising the dedication, bravery, and service to duty exhibited by NIFRS staff from all seven stations in the borough, including both frontline and administrative personnel.

The Freedom of the Borough is a rare honour, granted only four times since the establishment of Ards and North Down Borough Council in 2015. This marks the 37th time the award has been conferred in the area since its inception in 1930.

Cllr Alistair Cathcart, Mayor of Ards and North Down, said: "The Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour that a Council can bestow, and Elected Members were unanimous in deciding to recognise NIFRS in this way. Providing a service that touches the lives of so many of the residents in our Borough, you could not be more deserving."

He added: "It is hoped this honour goes some way to publicly recognise the outstanding work NIFRS does in Ards and North Down, and across Northern Ireland as a whole." Aidan Jennings, Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, officially received the award on behalf of NIFRS and said: "We are honoured to accept the Freedom of the Borough from Ards and North Down Borough Council who have recognised our commitment to serving our community. This success would not have been attained without the support and dedication of all our people. I know this accolade will be greatly appreciated by our people who play a crucial role in each of our 7 stations across the Borough. I especially want to acknowledge our Firefighters and support employees who live and work locally, and also our control room operators, trainers, support technicians and headquarters employees, many of whom live within the Borough, but work at other NIFRS locations. It’s as one team that NIFRS is able to provide our preparedness and response within the Borough to ensure we keep our community safe."

As part of the conferment, Firefighters from local stations delivered a family fun afternoon at Bangor City Hall, which was attended by around 1,000 people. There was specialist equipment on display and live demonstrations of firefighting skills. There were also opportunities for visitors to try firefighting activities for themselves. Local scouts who attended were able to earn their FIRE SAFETY Badge ensuring the key fire service messages of fire protection and prevention were shared throughout the event.

Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt, was delighted to attend the conferment and said: "Well done on receiving this honour of the Freedom of the Borough of Ards and North Down. It is a prestigious award and serves to highlight the tremendous contribution Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service makes to the local community.

"On 7 October, NIFRS personnel were among the emergency crews who attended the scene of the school bus crash in Carrowdore. I know I speak for the entire community, particularly those children and families caught up in that distressing incident, in expressing my gratitude for the fast and efficient way in which they responded, and for their expertise and professionalism.

"Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service is an invaluable service that has served our community tirelessly, and it is with great respect and admiration that I commend the Firefighters, past and present, for their unwavering dedication and bravery.

"Every day, these remarkable individuals risk their lives to protect our communities, responding to fire emergencies, road traffic collisions, and providing critical support during times of crisis to help keep people safe. They carry out these duties to the highest standards of courage and professionalism that embodies the spirit of service above self."