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School pupils from across the community in Banbridge are to recount their emotive visit to the battlefields of France as part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Twenty-five pupils from Banbridge High School and St Patrick’s College recently visited World War battlefields in France and Belgium.

On Thursday night the pupils will take part in a special D-Day commemoration event in Banbridge Civic Building, where they will recount finding the graves of relatives who died in WWI, during their trip.

On 6 June 1944 the Allies launched the biggest air and seaborne invasion in history, known as D-Day. Over 150,000 troops landed on Normandy beaches to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation; Over 4,000 were killed by German soldiers.

Mrs Marilyn Donaghy, Shared Education Coordinator at Banbridge High School, said that on their trip, pupils learned how soldiers from both sides of the community died.

“The tour was a powerful Shared Educational opportunity to learn and think critically together about the impact of war and conflict on the soldiers and on the civilians from Ireland," she told the News Letter.

"It was a poignant reminder of those from both sides of the community who stood shoulder to shoulder, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. “

Mrs Emma Salisbury, Shared Education Coordinator at St Patricks College, Banbridge, said the pupils made genuine bonds during the project, which lasted several months.

“Firm friendships were made during the visit and it is wonderful that the students can come together again to commemorate the D Day Landings at Banbridge Civic Centre," she added. Banbridge Royal British Legion provided both poppy and laurel wreaths for the pupils to lay.

Also on Thursday, a major commemoration event will take place in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh. The service will include an act of remembrance recalling those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the D-Day landings, and during the Second World War, in the pursuit of peace and freedom.

A further event at Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre will host local school children from Dickson Primary who have been working on a D-Day project. There will be music from St Mark’s Silver Band and a talk from historian Mr Richard Edgar.

Commemorative beacons will be lit at all three locations - and right across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK - at 9:15pm.

“We are delighted to be hosting three different events across our borough to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day,” commented the Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Councillor Kyle Savage.

“Each event in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon are unique in their own right and include a variety of different proceedings – with each event culminating in the lighting of the beacon and the reading of The International Tribute.

“We would like to warmly invite as many members of the public to come along and join us at one of these special events as we pay tribute to those who bravely fought for our freedom.”

Meanwhile, the King and Queen have hosted four D-Day veterans at Buckingham Palace, hearing moving personal stories and seeing their poignant keepsakes, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. The special meeting will be broadcast as part of BBC One’s D-Day 80: Tribute to The Fallen on 5 June.

Many other events are taking place across Northern Ireland on Thursday;-

In Belfast a special D-Day 80th Anniversary Reception at City Hall is being held (now sold out).

In Lisburn at 8am, a town crier will deliver the D-Day 80 Proclamation from the Irish Linen Centre. There are also 80 other events.

Ards and North Down Borough Council have organised beacons at Bangor’s Castle Park, Newtownards’ Conway Square and Ballyhalbert’s Burr Point.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council is holding a commemorative open day on Saturday 12-4pm at Sentry Hill, Newtownabbey.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is holding commemorations, on 5 June at Ballycarry and at multiple venues on Thursday.

Antrim Borough Council is lighting beacons at Antrim Castle Gardens and Mossley Mill, with a short service at each location.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will light a special beacon at the East Strand, Portrush with a special ceremony.

Enniskillen Castle and Strule Arts Centre in Omagh will both be illuminated blue

RBL Coalisland and Newmills Branch are raising the D-Day 80 flag at Tullaniskin Parish Church at 9am, followed by D-Day 80 Wreath Laying at Newmills memorial.

The Church of Ireland is also organising a range of commemorations on Thursday at Magilligan, Downpatrick, Armagh and Enniskillen.

D-Day 80th anniversary Northern Ireland: Pupils from across community take joint trip to battlefields of France and Belgium