Reopening of Belfast City Hall

In October 2009 Trevor Long and Joe McKeown attended the official reopening of the newly refurbished Belfast City Hall.  Trevor and Joe, who are alumni of Department of State Programmes were invited to attend by the US Consulate Office in Belfast.

 

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the guest of honour on the special day and was welcomed to Belfast by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Naomi Long.  On arrival, she performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the reopening of City Hall and unveiled a plaque to mark the completion of its £11 million refurbishment programme.  At a reception to mark her visit, she mingled with councillors and guests representing a cross section of the Belfast community.

   

Joe McKeown was able to exchange greetings with Secretary Clinton and thanked her and her husband for their peace building efforts in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years.  Hillary Clinton responded by saying “I am just a cheerleader for peace, you do all the work!’.  Hillary Clinton’s words were inspirational in many ways and Joe hopes that there will be more advocates for peace in our Churches and across the community.