Last night before I retired to bed I spent a few minutes checking e-mails and messages, I also checked a few blogs that I regularly visit and found an excellent blog post by Minister McCausland - A faded Cultural Memory.
Visit the blog entry here: - http://theministerspen.blogspot.com/
I can say again from first hand experience, that many in the Education sector have been 'Awakened' by the prospect of bringing OUR culture into the classroom, there is no shame in that, we need others like Minister McCausland to support, enhance and develop a strategy aimed at telling OUR children OUR history allowing the children to learn about and play OUR music, etc.
For example - I worked in a school from January to June, teaching tin whistle and lambeg drum, from that small class the school explored many aspects of local Ulster Scots life such as history, music, language, dance, arts & crafts, cookery. The school held an exhibition and concert evening in the assembly hall, attended by local folk and packed to capacity - the school wanted more and more Ulster Scots because the children, parents, teachers and local community wanted it -there are many more schools like it.
I agree with all that the Minister put on this blog post - I have first hand experience of this, however a lot of great work is being carried out by dedicated, honest and hard working folk committed to the Ulster Scots Community. For example Keith Lyttle and myself - working for the Ulster Scots Agency, are aware that there is a large waiting list for the services of the peripatetic music tutors, particularly Keith Lyttle - Fiddle, who is in high demand.
Sadly our Capital City Belfast appears to be somewhat of an Ulster Scots wilderness -with so many schools in a 5 mile radius, yet virtually no Ulster Scots activities going on at all, that's a sad indictment!
HMA
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Loughries Ulster Scots Festival
The third and final part of Loughries mini Ulster Scots Festival takes place on Friday evening 15th October 2010 7.45pm at the Londonderry Room, Town Hall, Newtownards.
A full house is expected to see the following programme: -
Part 1
7.45pm - Introduction Mr. David Anderson MVO MBE
7.50pm - Thompson Brothers Part 1
8.05pm - N’Ards Orange Choir Part 1
8.15pm - Wilbert Magill Poetry Fa the Ards
8.30pm - Newtownards CLB Band
8.50pm - Intermission
Part 2
8.55pm – N’Ards Orange Choir Part 2
9.05pm – Billy Curry – Asha Koran School India Presentation
9.20pm – Thompson Brothers Part 2
9.35pm - Mr. David Anderson MVO MBE Closing Remarks
9.40pm - Conclusion of Entertainment - Refreshments Served.
If you would like to come along please, drop me a line at my usual contact numbers + addresses.
More detailed report to follow
HMA
A full house is expected to see the following programme: -
Part 1
7.45pm - Introduction Mr. David Anderson MVO MBE
7.50pm - Thompson Brothers Part 1
8.05pm - N’Ards Orange Choir Part 1
8.15pm - Wilbert Magill Poetry Fa the Ards
8.30pm - Newtownards CLB Band
8.50pm - Intermission
Part 2
8.55pm – N’Ards Orange Choir Part 2
9.05pm – Billy Curry – Asha Koran School India Presentation
9.20pm – Thompson Brothers Part 2
9.35pm - Mr. David Anderson MVO MBE Closing Remarks
9.40pm - Conclusion of Entertainment - Refreshments Served.
If you would like to come along please, drop me a line at my usual contact numbers + addresses.
More detailed report to follow
HMA
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Lesser Spotted Ulster
Tonight Sunday Lesser Spotted Ulster came from Bailieboro Co. Cavan.
My wife's mother (my mother in law) and her family, were natives of Bailieboro, however at the time of the partition of Ireland, the family - like many Protestants, upped sticks and moved North.
It was a very interesting and enjoyable program and gave a great insight into the history of a particularly fascinating part of Ulster.
HMA
My wife's mother (my mother in law) and her family, were natives of Bailieboro, however at the time of the partition of Ireland, the family - like many Protestants, upped sticks and moved North.
It was a very interesting and enjoyable program and gave a great insight into the history of a particularly fascinating part of Ulster.
HMA
Dates
Where were you on
- 6/6/66
or - 7/7/77
or - 8/8/88
or - 9/9/99
Only numbers but today Sunday is 10-10-10 will it be a memorable day for you?
- 6/6/66
or - 7/7/77
or - 8/8/88
or - 9/9/99
Only numbers but today Sunday is 10-10-10 will it be a memorable day for you?
Betsy Gray - 3
Following on from my blog entry on Friday, I was sent 4 x items on Betsy Gray by 'Mark T' who very kindly allowed me to show them on the blog.
2/ The 9th Edition of the book 'great cover' - setting the scene of the Betsy Gray story.
HMA
1/ Photograph of an old postcard showing the house with the late George Macartney, as you see the house was in a better state than it was on my visit on Friday.
2/ The 9th Edition of the book 'great cover' - setting the scene of the Betsy Gray story. 
HMA
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Betsy Gray - 2
Well, as planned Noel Roulston and I, visited Betsy Gray's cottage at Ballygrainey (6 road ends)on Friday afternoon 8-10-10. We parked at Summerfields Private Nursing Home - owned by the Warden family and walked the short distance down narrow lane way to the old dwelling house.
From the car park Noel and I pick up a companion, a 3 legged collie (we named tripod) who accompanied us on the short walk to the cottage.
It was a dry, sunny and blustery Autumn afternoon - the trees around the cottage and lanes were being blown wildly in the gusting wind.
Sadly the cottage is in a very poor state of repair – I was rather shocked as to its dilapidated state. As you can see from a few of the pictures, it is a virtual ruin. 
It is very sad that we as a society (or the powers that be) decide what is historical and worthy of restoration and preservation and what is not.
Noel is an architect and master builder (retired) - he pointed out many parts of the building and explained what the general function of the different areas of the buildings were used for – I was very interested and intrigued by Noel’s vast knowledge!
Having delved somewhat in local history place like the cottage should be preserved – this period in our history perhaps seems somewhat confusing to the general populous today, however it was the beginning of the shaping of our general society as we know it today. I am not going to get into the rights and wrongs of the political – social – religious realities of that era; nevertheless if you read some local history, I hope you would agree that this house would need to be looked at in a sympathetic and compassionate way.
A view from the Newtownards / Gransha side of the cottage - obviously an old road / track
A view of the front of the cottage from the 4 roads side - again another old road / track
Me posing at the front of the cottage - note the wellies!
From the car park Noel and I pick up a companion, a 3 legged collie (we named tripod) who accompanied us on the short walk to the cottage.
It was a dry, sunny and blustery Autumn afternoon - the trees around the cottage and lanes were being blown wildly in the gusting wind. 
Sadly the cottage is in a very poor state of repair – I was rather shocked as to its dilapidated state. As you can see from a few of the pictures, it is a virtual ruin. 
It is very sad that we as a society (or the powers that be) decide what is historical and worthy of restoration and preservation and what is not.
Noel is an architect and master builder (retired) - he pointed out many parts of the building and explained what the general function of the different areas of the buildings were used for – I was very interested and intrigued by Noel’s vast knowledge!
Having delved somewhat in local history place like the cottage should be preserved – this period in our history perhaps seems somewhat confusing to the general populous today, however it was the beginning of the shaping of our general society as we know it today. I am not going to get into the rights and wrongs of the political – social – religious realities of that era; nevertheless if you read some local history, I hope you would agree that this house would need to be looked at in a sympathetic and compassionate way.
A view from the Newtownards / Gransha side of the cottage - obviously an old road / track
A view of the front of the cottage from the 4 roads side - again another old road / track 
Me posing at the front of the cottage - note the wellies!
Thanks to Noel for arranging the visit - Noel read one of the books about Betsy Gray - that he bought last week on out Aforenoon tour of the Ards and has caught the local history bug!
Hope you enjoyed the report and pictures.
HMA
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Loughries Mini Ulster Scots Festival - 2010
Following on from the report of last Thursday's Somme Event - here are a couple of photo's of the 2 x speakers and myself!
L to R - Philip Orr - Mark Anderson - Jack Greenald
Philip Orr - Road to the Somme
L to R - Philip Orr - Mark Anderson - Jack Greenald
Philip Orr - Road to the SommeHMA
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