New citizens welcomed

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has assumed responsibility for the administration of Citizenship Ceremonies in Northern Ireland.
In Hillsborough Castle, where British Citizenship Ceremonies will take place and administered by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council are (l-r) Dr. Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive; Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett; Mrs Patricia Corbett, Head of Hillsborough Castle; Mr Nigel Hills, UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office and (back) Lord Lieutenant of County Down, Mr David Lyndsay; Alderman James Tinsley, Chairman of the Council's Corporate Services Committee and Mr Adrian Donaldson, Director Corporate Services, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.In Hillsborough Castle, where British Citizenship Ceremonies will take place and administered by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council are (l-r) Dr. Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive; Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett; Mrs Patricia Corbett, Head of Hillsborough Castle; Mr Nigel Hills, UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office and (back) Lord Lieutenant of County Down, Mr David Lyndsay; Alderman James Tinsley, Chairman of the Council's Corporate Services Committee and Mr Adrian Donaldson, Director Corporate Services, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.
In Hillsborough Castle, where British Citizenship Ceremonies will take place and administered by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council are (l-r) Dr. Theresa Donaldson, Chief Executive; Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett; Mrs Patricia Corbett, Head of Hillsborough Castle; Mr Nigel Hills, UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office and (back) Lord Lieutenant of County Down, Mr David Lyndsay; Alderman James Tinsley, Chairman of the Council's Corporate Services Committee and Mr Adrian Donaldson, Director Corporate Services, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

All Citizenship Ceremonies take place at Hillsborough Castle, which is cared for by charity Historic Royal Palaces.

Persons who have applied for British Citizenship and who have been approved to receive it will be invited by the Council to attend a Citizenship Ceremony.

The decision to grant British Citizenship is determined by UK Visas and Immigration, which is part of the Home Office. Ceremonies will be held within three months of an application being approved.

The Mayor, Councillor Thomas Beckett, said: “This is a new responsibility for Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and we are delighted to be working with Historic Royal Palaces in the delivery of Citizenship Ceremonies. We look forward to welcoming new British Citizens to the City of Lisburn and to the historic village of Hillsborough.”

Mrs Patricia Corbett, Head of Hillsborough Castle, commented: “I am very glad that Hillsborough Castle will continue to host these ceremonies and Historic Royal Palaces will take great pleasure in congratulating the new Citizens.”

Alderman James Tinsley, the Chairman of the Council’s Corporate Services Committee, added: “We will carry out forthcoming Citizenship Ceremonies to the highest standards. The beautiful surroundings at Hillsborough Castle will certainly add to the significance of the occasion for those people attending a Citizenship Ceremony.”