Neeson: ‘I’m proud to be a Ballymena man’

Published on 29/01/2013 10:05

“SURE you wouldnt get a welcome like that at the Oscars!”

Ballymena Mayor P. J. McAvoy hit the nail squarely on the head when he summed up the reactions of hundreds of brave souls who braved sometimes atrocious weather conditions to give ‘local boy made good’ Liam Neeson a hero’s reception at The Braid Arts Centre yesterday.

The Hollywood star, in town to receive the Borough’s highest honour, gave the thumbs up to his dedicated fans before he embarked on a round of official ceremonies which ended with him being made a ‘Freeman’ - the third in local history after long serving mayor, the late Sandy Spence, the Rev. Ian Paisley and rugby legend Syd Millar.

You can read more about how the big man from Corlea Gardens reacted to his special day and just what Ballymena means to him inside this week’s paper, plus pictures from the event.

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Neeson: ‘I’m proud to be a Ballymena man’

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