The roadto change“Our ancient dignity has been restoredto us after a lapse of 107 years.”The next major change to thedivestment of local powers inCarrickfergus came about in 1926.At this time, under an amendmentto the Municipal Corporation Act(Northern Ireland) 1926, Carrickfergusbecame an Urban District Council,appointing Urban District Councillors.Our story now moves forward 23years to March 1949. At this time,Carrickfergus Urban District Councildecided to petition the Governmentto grant a Charter of Incorporationwhich would change its statusfrom that of an Urban DistrictCouncil, into a Municipal Borough.There were strict formalities to beobserved. The petition had to besigned by at least one fourth of thelocal Government electors withinCarrickfergus Urban District, andthe Council had to present thepetition through the Ministry ofHealth and Local Government forNorthern Ireland, to the Governorof Northern Ireland.At a meeting of the Privy Councilof Northern Ireland held atGovernment House, Hillsborough,on the 16 May 1949, the Petitionwas approved by His Excellency,the Governor of Northern Ireland.This was formally recognised in aletter dated 30 May 1949 - “Fromthe Ministry of Health and LocalGovernment, handing to CouncilsLetters Patent under the GreatSeal of Northern Ireland grantinga Charter of Incorporation to theCarrickfergus Urban District Councilas a Borough from 1st July next.”The fi rst meeting of the BoroughCouncil of Carrickfergus was heldon Friday 1 July 1949. Carrickfergushad been reinstated as a Borough,Joymount/Scotch Quarter,1950s.with powers to elect a Mayor,Aldermen and Councillors -“Our ancient dignity has been restoredto us after a lapse of 107 years.”The following offi cers were elected:• Mayor - Thomas J Patterson J.P.• Deputy Mayor -William McCullough J.P.• Alderman:- W. McCullough J.P.,D. Blair, J. Laird, W.E. McCartney,T. Faulkner, J.C. McQuitty• Councillors:- T.J. Patterson J.P.,J. Baird, M. Gillespie, J. McCallion,H. Millar, D. M. Rea, G. Holmes,H. McFarland, T. Hunter• Town Clerk: Thomas McVeaAfter the meeting, the Mayor hosteda luncheon for over 230 distinguishedguests in the Town Hall.COMPASS / SPRING-SUMMER <strong>2009</strong>