Courage of D-Day soldiers honoured with new mural in Carrickfergus shortly after new SAS mural unveiled off Shankill

Among those attending the unveiling of the D-Day mural in Carrickfergus' Castlemara estate on Sunday was George Horner, a former member of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles who landed on Sword beach on June 6, 1945. It comes after a mural was unveiled off the Shankill Road in north-west Belfast this month honouring SAS founder Blair 'Paddy' Mayne. The News Letter understands that it the Carrick one, painted by English artist Dan Kitchener, took only four days to complete. DUP councillor Billy Ashe said: "I am delighted to see this new mural dedicated to George and his comrades, it is vitally important that our young people never forget the service and sacrifice of those who came before them, whose courage allows us to live in freedom today. "I want to thank everyone involved in this project particularly and Dan for delivering another painting we can all be very proud of." Mr Horner, who is to be honoured later this week with the freedom of the borough on his 99th birthday, said: "We went in by the sea. It was rough getting on shore. "There were plenty of landing craft, some of them were sinking around us due to shells from the shore coming down on us. "A lot of good lads lost their lives there. "It was a blood bath. A slaughterhouse. Terrible." The money for it was raised by Carrickfergus scooter club A2 Aces. The club regularly raises money for the local UDR Association and Royal British Legion. Michael McCullough, chairman of A2 Aces, added: "As a club we were delighted to work with local businesses to support this amazing mural and dedicating it to George made it all the more special. "Carrickfergus is proud of its military history and heritage and many young men and women from our communities continue to join the armed forces. "The mural is a testament to the bravery and courage of all those in our armed forces, past and present." Artist Mr Kitchener (also known by the nickname DANK) has painted other murals in the Co Antrim town recently, including an impressionistic one of Carrick Castle near the seafront, and another beside Carrick Train Station commemorating the 1st US Army Rangers Battalion, which had been founded in the town during WWII. A couple of weeks ago, Bangor artist Johnny Hamilton, also known as Jossiepops, painted his Paddy Mayne mural on a blank gable wall on the corner of Disraeli Street and Woodvale Street in west Belfast (co-incidentally the corner of the next street over, Enfield Street, is home to another mural by DANK, depicting a rainy street in Japan). It was commissioned by the group Greater Shankill Alternatives, and North Belfast DUP MLA Phillip Brett said it was a "fantastic addition to the greater Shankill", adding that Mayne's "courage and leadership continue to inspire generations". "This powerful piece of artwork, brilliantly brought to life by the talented Jossiepops, not only honours a remarkable individual but also reflects the pride we have in our local history and identity," he said. "Projects like this show the very best of our community working together to celebrate our past while investing in our future."