SCHOOL children from Harryville Primary School have helped create a spectacular monument to the Braidwater Spinning Mill in the King George V park.

Organised by the Harryville Partnership, the monumental wall is a collection of old photographs of workers from the Mills immaculately enshrined in mosaic and mounted on a wall depicting the once-great spinning mill, which kept thousands of local people in employment.

On Thursday, dozens of local people eagerly gathered for the official opening of the monument, which was fittingly performed by former employee Mary Moore.

Many who gathered at the opening, had personal family connections to the Mill, and so they searched through the old photographs looking for a familiar face.

Acting Chairman of the Harryville Partnership, Denver McMeekin explained the significance of the display:
"We in the Partnership wanted to let the people of Harryville see the foundations which the Mill laid for the local area. It commemorates the the generations of local people who worked in the Mill."

Ballymena South Councillor, Martin Clarke was clearly impressed: "It is a marvellous day for Harryville with the unveiling of this mural. The Braidwater Spinning Mill was the main workplace for Harryville and the whole Ballymena area. This is a very important part of our local history."

Local businessman Roy Bonar was just one of those assembly on Thursday who had family connections with the Mill.

He said: "I am very pleased to see this monument here today. It is a great part of Harryville's history. My mother worked in the Mill from 1912 until she got married and she walked from Ahoghill to Harryville every day.

"I think it is great that the young people have some history of the people who went before them."