Lord and Lady Eames to be granted Freedom of Armagh City

Lord and Lady Eames will make history later this year as the first individuals ever to be awarded the Freedom of Armagh City.

The ceremony will be led by the Mayor of Armagh and the Council’s acting Chief Executive, John Briggs, with Lord and Lady Eames taking centre stage at the spectacle, which will include robed Councillors in full regalia processing behind the Council mace.

It is expected the event will take place later this year in the Council chambers, with celebrations for local people being held afterwards in the Palace Demesne.

Mayor, Councillor William Irwin MLA, said: “Lord and Lady Eames have contributed an enormous amount to residents of this City and District over the past two decades.

“As such, the Council feels this is the only fitting tribute to celebrate the marvellous work they have done on behalf of every section of the community, during what were often dark times for the people of Armagh.

“The Freedom of the City ceremony will also be a chance for us to show our appreciation to Lord and Lady Eames, as well as an enjoyable opportunity to see history in the making.”

Lord Eames served as Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland for 20 years, from February 1986 until December 2006, when he was succeeded by Archbishop Alan Harper.

Noted for his role in the peace process and commitment to cross community issues, Lord Eames is a former law lecturer at Queen’s University.

His wife, Lady Eames, is herself a law graduate and also lectured in community and commercial law in Belfast.

She was awarded an OBE in 2006 for her community work and is currently a member of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Lord and Lady Eames said: “We are deeply honoured by the decision of the Council to award us the Freedom of the City. It has been a great privilege to share in so many aspects of the life of the community in Armagh for over 20 years and we will long remember the courage and resilience of local people through good times and bad.