Red Arrows in Belfast Olympic fly-over

Published Friday, 27 July 2012
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The Red Arrows display team have flown over Belfast to mark the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games, with thousands of bells having already rung in the event.

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The fly-past at 1pm was part of plans by the Red Arrows to mark the Olympics in each of the UK's four capital cities on Friday.

Earlier, at 8.12am, bells at Northern Ireland landmarks - including Stormont, St George's Market, St Columb's and St Eugene's Cathedrals in Londonderry - joined in chiming for three minutes as part of the UK-wide All The Bells project.

The London 2012 Festival's biggest community project was the idea of Turner Prize-winning artist and musician Martin Creed.

All four Parliaments including the Northern Ireland Assembly joined in with London's Big Ben, which chimed more than 40 times, to ring in the Olympic Games.

It is believed to be the first time that the strike of Big Ben has been rung outside its regular schedule since 15 February 1952, when it tolled every minute for 56 strokes from 9.30am for the funeral of King George VI.

"This is a unique moment in which we can all celebrate our part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the UK," Speaker of the assembly William Hay said.

"It is also an opportunity for everyone across Northern Ireland to join in and welcome the world's attention to our shores. It is a moment for us all to enjoy together."

Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín praised the project as the "the perfect way to get into the Olympic spirit and help us all to prepare to cheer on our teams and athletes."

In the build up to the Olympics, more than more than 30,000 people have attended London 2012 Festival events in Northern Ireland and further events in August are planned at Belfast Zoo, the Giant's Causeway and Enniskillen.

© UTV News
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29 Comments
Martin in Belfast wrote (296 days ago):
@Ryan, are you seriously suggesting that the Red Arrows fly past caused you distress/suffering? No one is asking you to be British or to dilute your sense of being Irish by seeing this for what it was, nothing more than an Olympic celebration. If its any consolation I don't think the Olympics will be back in these parts any time soon, so no need for similar fly pasts in the future.Tolerance is the way forward, so when I see people celebrating their culture or identity which may be different to mine, I say fair play and good luck to them. Doesn't make me any less British in doing so. Also I have no problem in using the term Irish to describe myself either.
Dave in Belfast wrote (296 days ago):
@Gerry. Do you get offended by British Airways, British Midland or FlyBE (British European) flying out of the airports here or flying over the country to America? Do you cringe when a red bus is parked beside a blue bus? Did you choke on your Cornish pasty as its a British savoury treat? You have made yourself look very silly, I feel sorry for you, life must be very hard!!
Gerry Connor in Belfast wrote (296 days ago):
I think some people are coming on here and making things up. (you know who im talking about Marc of 'Kisburn'). I googled 'Kisburn' and there no such place.
Gerry Connor in Belfast wrote (296 days ago):
The flight of the Red Arrows has created lively debate on this page. Therefore I feel its about time the NI Assembly had an Air Ministry, to give permission for such flights etc. I dont know what it is but theres something about Edwin Poots that makes him perfect for this position. On a slightly different matter, I travel twice a week into the city centre for croissants (cos they dont sell them at the Ardoyne shops) while in Belfast it upsets me whenever Ulsterbuses pass City buses as they create the red, white and blue colours. Surely its not to much to ask if the companies can organise their routes so they dont meet up and create this offence to my comunity, or maybe they could change their colours.
Iain in Belfast wrote (296 days ago):
Ryan, why not just take out petty tribal politics and see it for what it was - planes flying over the city. Why oh why do you feel the need to see something that clearly isn't there and be so paranoid. Sorry pal but your outdated, stick-in-the-mud attitude is so sad. You are in the tiny minority that finds this offensive for completely laughable reasons.
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