Second World War veterans from the Republic and the North wanting to make a return to the battlefields where they fought over 65 years ago are being offered funding to make the trip.
The Big Lottery Fund said today veterans from across the island can apply to its Heroes Return 2 programme.
The announcement came as it awarded grants of over £6,500 to allow seven Northern Ireland veterans from Belfast, Antrim, Craigavon, Newtownards and Portstewart to make commemorative trips to France this week.
The programme enables veterans and their spouses and carers to return to battlefields where comrades were lost in the 1940s.
The programme will remain open and offering funding until 2011, the fund said there was no exact amount of money set aside - it would depend on how many people applied.
Breidge Gadd, the Big Lottery Fund’s Northern Ireland chair said: “As we move towards the 65th anniversary of the Second World War this might be the last chance for many veterans to travel overseas to commemorate one of the most significant events in their lives.
“Thanks to this funding ex-servicemen across Ireland, along with their spouses and carers, will be able to renew friendships, relive and share past glories and tragedies and pay respects to fallen comrades,” she said.
Ms Gadd added: “A huge debt of gratitude and recognition is owed to these men and women and I am delighted that we are able to remember their bravery and heroism through the Heroes Return programme.”
PA