Click on image to enlarge, then read the article!
HMA
Friday, 20 May 2011
David Anderson - The Queens Visit
Big Bro. David Anderson appeared in a newspaper earlier this week - with regard to the Royal Visit by HM Queen Elizabeth to the Irish Republic.
Click on image to enlarge, then read the article!
HMA
Click on image to enlarge, then read the article!
HMA
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Old Drum
Again during my visit to Ballyrobert Drumming Club - this drum was there. It is a very old drum from Newtownards called the Defender.
It was used at many 'Twelfth Parades' through the years and was owned by the Tate Family. There is a tragic story attached to the drum in that during a Twelfth Parade back in the 1970's the man playing the drum Mr. Tate collapsed and died whilst playing the drum. As a result the drum has not been played since.
The drum is now owned by Billy Tate - a nephew of the man who died. Billy is a member of Loughries Orange Lodge and recently took an interest in drumming so I teach him on a Monday evening at our class. It is great to have another old drum back in action - the more the better!
HMA
It was used at many 'Twelfth Parades' through the years and was owned by the Tate Family. There is a tragic story attached to the drum in that during a Twelfth Parade back in the 1970's the man playing the drum Mr. Tate collapsed and died whilst playing the drum. As a result the drum has not been played since.
The drum is now owned by Billy Tate - a nephew of the man who died. Billy is a member of Loughries Orange Lodge and recently took an interest in drumming so I teach him on a Monday evening at our class. It is great to have another old drum back in action - the more the better!
HMA
New Drum
This evening I visited Ballyrobert Drumming Club, on the outskirts of Bangor. Along with all the other folk there was Denis Morrow, drum maker and a good friend of mine!
He had with him his new drum - one he made specially to get his late father William Morrow painted on it and as you can see its a beauty.
It was painted by William Magowan, from Garvagh Co. Londonderry and it has Denis's father in the centre with Belfast City Hall and the Old Gasworks - Ormeau Road.
A brilliant drum and we look forward to seeing it out in the coming weeks and months.
HMA
He had with him his new drum - one he made specially to get his late father William Morrow painted on it and as you can see its a beauty.
It was painted by William Magowan, from Garvagh Co. Londonderry and it has Denis's father in the centre with Belfast City Hall and the Old Gasworks - Ormeau Road.
A brilliant drum and we look forward to seeing it out in the coming weeks and months.
HMA
Visit to Helen's Tower
At the weekend me and my trusted companion - Dudley, went on a 10 mile hike from home - here at Balmoral up to Helen's Tower and back!
Since my last visit some months ago it, had been cleaned up and a car park added. It appears from the sign that you can now hire the tower to stay in - spooky!
As you can see it is a beautiful place to visit, secluded and private with wonderful views over Belfast Lough and Craigantlet Hills. If you live in the vicinity of Ards / North Down and you haven't visited the tower please take the time and visit - you will be delighted.
HMA
Since my last visit some months ago it, had been cleaned up and a car park added. It appears from the sign that you can now hire the tower to stay in - spooky!
As you can see it is a beautiful place to visit, secluded and private with wonderful views over Belfast Lough and Craigantlet Hills. If you live in the vicinity of Ards / North Down and you haven't visited the tower please take the time and visit - you will be delighted.
HMA
Gun Running - Donaghadee 1914
Thanks to Jack Greenald for this important information.
If you recall I mentioned in a recent post that my Orange Lodge - Loughries True Blues LOL 1948, are planning a new banner for 2012. Well, 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant and we (the Lodge) have decided to commerate the event with a new Orange Banner.
I was inspired by a well known local politician who made a wonderful rousing speech at the Newtownards Orange Twelfth in 2010 - here he (I will name this man later) referred to the signing of the Ulster Covenant as 'The Birth Certificate of Northern Ireland'.
I later put this idea to members of Loughries Lodge Banner Committee, this was agreed, then we set about researching the content of the banner, to make sure that every item that is put on the banner is historically correct. Now, I don't want to give away too much, as I would like to keep the design under wraps until it is unveiled, but I can say there were a number of significant events that happend in Ulster History around 1912, and ensuing years.
With the help of Jack, it has been established that the gun running in Donaghadee took place on the 25th April 1914 and the Innismurray was the boat that delivered the guns into Donaghadee Harbour, having met with the Clyde Valley at Larne Harbour, earlier in the evening.
The landing of the guns was overseen by Unionist Leader James Craig (he can be seen in photo 2) with the guns loaded onto waiting vehicles by men - local members of the UVF, who distrubuted the weapons to towns and villages throughout the Newtownards area.
More Later!
HMA
If you recall I mentioned in a recent post that my Orange Lodge - Loughries True Blues LOL 1948, are planning a new banner for 2012. Well, 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant and we (the Lodge) have decided to commerate the event with a new Orange Banner.
I was inspired by a well known local politician who made a wonderful rousing speech at the Newtownards Orange Twelfth in 2010 - here he (I will name this man later) referred to the signing of the Ulster Covenant as 'The Birth Certificate of Northern Ireland'.
I later put this idea to members of Loughries Lodge Banner Committee, this was agreed, then we set about researching the content of the banner, to make sure that every item that is put on the banner is historically correct. Now, I don't want to give away too much, as I would like to keep the design under wraps until it is unveiled, but I can say there were a number of significant events that happend in Ulster History around 1912, and ensuing years.
With the help of Jack, it has been established that the gun running in Donaghadee took place on the 25th April 1914 and the Innismurray was the boat that delivered the guns into Donaghadee Harbour, having met with the Clyde Valley at Larne Harbour, earlier in the evening.
The landing of the guns was overseen by Unionist Leader James Craig (he can be seen in photo 2) with the guns loaded onto waiting vehicles by men - local members of the UVF, who distrubuted the weapons to towns and villages throughout the Newtownards area.
More Later!HMA
Keep Bloggin!
Well, I have been deeply moved by the response I had to my last blog post - The End. Since last Friday I have had quite a number of personal phone calls, e-mails and messages of encouragement to keep bloggin.
Now, having given this a great deal of thought I have decided to retract the last blog post and to continue to Blog. I had also stopped facebook, I will continue with this also.
The Ulster Scots community is a small but growing community and I were to stop the blog it may have a detrimental effect on this community so it is back to bloggin!!!!
Thanks to everyone for their words of wisdom and encouragement - it has been uplifting.
Now, having given this a great deal of thought I have decided to retract the last blog post and to continue to Blog. I had also stopped facebook, I will continue with this also.
The Ulster Scots community is a small but growing community and I were to stop the blog it may have a detrimental effect on this community so it is back to bloggin!!!!
Thanks to everyone for their words of wisdom and encouragement - it has been uplifting.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
The End
Thanks to everyone for Lookin in on my blog.
I have over the past 18 months had a very enjoyable time bloggin and hopefully I gave you a brief insight into my life - although I have been quite guarded at times.
There have been a number of highs and lows due to some of my blog posts - all honest and truthful - at all times.
If you were offended by any of my posts - well I am not sorry, if you have been entertained I am delighted.
There is of course a reason for the abrupt end to my bloggin - I have wasted my time one feels!!!!!!
THE END
I have over the past 18 months had a very enjoyable time bloggin and hopefully I gave you a brief insight into my life - although I have been quite guarded at times.
There have been a number of highs and lows due to some of my blog posts - all honest and truthful - at all times.
If you were offended by any of my posts - well I am not sorry, if you have been entertained I am delighted.
There is of course a reason for the abrupt end to my bloggin - I have wasted my time one feels!!!!!!
THE END
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