The Duchess of Cornwall pays surprise visit to Armagh’s Big Jubilee Lunch

April 27, 2012

Author: Kate

Mayor of Armagh City and District, Councillor Freda Donnelly welcomed The Duchess of Cornwall to the Palace Demesne Big Jubilee Lunch today, one of the first events to celebrate their award of Lord Mayoralty status as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee honours.

The Duchess of Cornwall has recently become Patron of this year’s Big Jubilee Lunch, part of our annual campaign encouraging neighbours to get together to improve community spirit through food, friendship and fun.

Mayor Freda Donnelly said: “Armagh City and District will now be only the fourth city in Ireland, after Belfast, Dublin and Cork to have a lord mayor and we are delighted to host a Big Jubilee Lunch to celebrate with our local ‘Saints and Scholars’ including volunteers, fundraisers and charity workers, school children, lifelong learners and representatives of organisations honoured with Freedom of the City.

“It is appropriate at this time of Apple Blossom, one of the key events in our annual programme, to showcase the beautiful apple blossom and Armagh Bramley Apple, which recently received the international “Protected Food Name” status as the central theme of our Big Jubilee Lunch.”

Archbishop Robinson, re-enacted by Ralph Adams, one of the council’s Living History Characters greeted The Duchess of Cornwall and explained his vision for Armagh in the 18^th Century as a city to rival Dublin both architecturally and as a seat of learning. The Duchess of Cornwall then joined the festivities in The Big Jubilee Lunch marquee, meeting ‘Saints and Scholars’ including local volunteers, fundraisers and charity workers, school children from Saints and Scholars Integrated Primary School and local Big Lunch champions.

Peter Stewart, Director of Campiagns and Communications at the Eden Project said: “We are thrilled and proud that The Duchess of Cornwall honoured Armagh with a visit today, in the beautiful setting of the Palace Demesne, and it was thrilling for the local ‘Saints & Scholars’ to be treated so warmly by her in their home town.

“It is a huge boost to our ambition to encourage people in Northern Ireland to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community.”

Find out more about the Jubilee celebrations taking place this year.

We’d love to hear what you’ve got planned for The Big Lunch 2012. Get in touch: yourstories@thebiglunch.com