Tayto - Factory Visit

Over the Easter Holiday's Mrs A the boy's and myself embarked on a trip to Tandragee, Co. Armagh for a visit to one of Ulster's most famous food brands Tayto.

The Tayto crisp factory is located in the grounds of Tandragee Castle -  It was built in 1837 by The 6th Duke of Manchester as the family's Irish home. The Duke of Manchester acquired the estate through his marriage to Millicent Sparrow (1798–1848). During the Plantation of Ulster the castle at Tandragee became the property of Sir Oliver St. John, Lord Deputy of Ireland. He rebuilt the original stronghold of the O'Hanlon Clan. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, however, the O'Hanlons attempted to regain their lands - the result was the castle being ruined; it remained so for two hundred years.The castle and estate were sold by the 10th Duke of Manchester (who was born at Tandragee) in the 1950s, and it was purchased by Mr. Hutchinson, a businessman from Tandragee. 

 

We met Mr Tayto then had our trip around the Tayto factory (our tour guide Jen was excellent) sadly we were not allowed any camera equipment into the factory - for obvious reasons, however I can comment that is was a great trip and wonder experience for us all.

We Anderson's are all self confessed crisp-aholics, especially me!! This visit was a great experience to see the crisp making process.

Visit the Tayto Web Site Here - http://www.tayto.com

In all a very worthwhile excursion and I would highly recommend this trip to all you crisp eaters out there!!

HMA

Lambeg Drums - A selection of Painted Shells

Here are a few more shells for your perusal - all taken from 'The Ulster Drum' - Bobby Magreechan. 

I have identified 4 of the drums - any thoughts on the un-named 2 ?

Bro. John Baker Drum - One of the famous Johnston Drums owned by J. Beck, Loughbrickland.

Lord Arthur Hill - Owned by Jacob Hull - Lisadian.

William Johnston Memorial - Owned by Aughnacloy Carson Drumming Club.

The Craigboy Challenger - owned by Alfie Magill Newtownards.

HMA

Service of Tenebrae - Good Friday 2012

Easter 2010 I was invited to play at the Friends of Portaferry Presbyterian Church Easter Tenebrae service, this year I was invited back.

Portaferry Church Building

The Service of the Shadows: - Howard Goodall's Requiem 'Eternal Light'

During this service the Narrator (Adam Goodwin - Dublin Actor) reads, in turn, each of the seven 'shadows' from the gospel of St. Matthew dealing Christ's journey from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Crucifixion.

As each lesson ends the musicians perform a movement of the Requiem, a candle is extinguished and the lights dimmed a little - with the Church in near total darkness, the Minister reads of the earthquake that accompanied Christ's death. Traditionally this passage ends with the 'Strepitus' - the great noise (me on the lambeg drum)

At the conclusion of the service the congregation leaves in silence.

Other performers - Lynda Barrett (soprano) - Luke Sinclair (tenor) - The New Quay Singers - Richard Campbell (organ) - Ciara McGlade (harp) - Gill Withers (double-bass) - Ryan Molloy (piano)

This is a very emotional and quite a moving service - if you ever get the chance to attend the service you will not be disappointed.............. bring a handkerchief with you!!

Also, if you have an interest in the 1798 Rebellion in The Ardes - Portaferry Church is the place for you!

This plaque hangs on the Church wall

HMA

Don't judge a book by its cover!

Mark T if you read this I have the book ready to deliver to you at your earliest convenience!

It's a well used saying 'don't judge a book by it's cover' however in this case - in my opinion it's so very true!

Every Wednesday in the course of my work I travel to Lisneal College in Londonderry, where I meet an old Low Country lad - living in exile, Darren Gibson. Darren gave me this book to transport to another Low County lad, who still lives below the floodgates outside Newton - Mark Thompson.

Am, I forgot that I had it as it was placed in a safe place in my van for a few weeks, I lifted it the other afternoon and had a wee look, now the cover is quite plain with the book title on the side of the book - it did not interest me to read the text as it looked so plain, however I began to read.

The story relates to 'The Ardes and the 1798 rebellion' and is written bilingual - in the Queens English and the language of the Ards Peninsula then and now - Ulster Scots. I don't class myself as an Ulster Scots speaker, as my vocabulary has changed somewhat since I moved to Bangor from Newtownards back in the 1990's, that said, I had a chat with my good friend Eric Cully this morning - discussing our plans for the lambeg drums these coming months. Eric is a fisherman from Portavogie and the words we use and the phrases we naturally spoke were very much Ulster Sots!!

The Pikemen. A romance of the Ards of Down by S. R. Keightly - London: Hutchinson & Co 1903.

This is a story of the year '98 in the county of Down, written in vivid and telling language by one who has an excellent knowledge of the period of which he writes, and a thorough grasp of local circumstances and the common dialect of the people. There is not a dry or uninteresting chapter throughout the hook, and it will afford ample pleasure to the general reader of romance, and more especially to those who are residing in the county in which the principal scenes described in the book are laid. We heartily recommend to the cultured author the desirability of a cheaper and more popular issue of this work, so as to make its pages accessible to everyone. The principal characters are painted with a decisive brush, but if anything, we consider the scene in the old meeting-house at Greyabbey a little over-drawn. Here we have the Rev. James Porter balloting in the communion cup for the name of him who was to do away with the informer Newell. We doubt the accuracy of this incident, and even the death of Newell at this place ; nor do we think this wretched man was such a character as is so skilfully portrayed by the writer. Be this as it may, it is ill to cavil with dry historical details in a work that has many charms, a store of information, and the deepest interest to even the most casual reader.

Read more at on this subject at Mark Thompson's Blog: - 

 http://clydesburn.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2012-03-10T07:37:00Z

Plain green cover - The Pikemen

The Pikemen book - Dr. S. R. Keightley - 1903

The period of 1798 in and around the Ardes is a very sore subject - it is like the elephant in the room that no-one seems to like to discuss - what happened happened, but it is a subject that has been somewhat ignored as time has slipped by.

I have enjoyed reading bits n pieces on the subject and had I been living in the Ards around that time - I most certainly have been carrying a pike against the Red Coats!!

HMA

iPad 3 - taking the plunge!

Well, having asked my Facebook friends (and my accountant) I took the plunge and bought an new iPad 3.

Matthew and I visited the Apple Store at Victoria Square shopping centre in Belfast on Saturday morning at 9.00am. The store was not too busy and the staff were very professional, helpful, charming and friendly - something unusual for large retail outlets!

We took the iPad home and had a lot of fun playing with it - we also bought Apple TV - its fantastic.

I have not seen too much of the iPad now, Matthew and Christopher seem to have played all their games through it, however I hope when they go to bed get a chance to explore the iPad a little more in-depth. 

One thing is certain life won't be the same again - it is truly fantastic!!

HMA

Lambeg Drums - A selection of painted shells.

From 'The Ulster Drum' book printed by with the vision and foresight of Michael McCullough, photographs by Bobby Magreechan (wee snapper) and words by the late George Douglas Holmes (Geordie).

I have selected a few drums with a nautical theme. Now, not the 'middle class who-ray henry yacht club type vessels' - but ships that have played a part in Ulster of British history throughout the years.

There is a drum from Newtownards in existence with the Titanic painted on it - owned by the Gordon Family - I will try to track a photo of it down and display it soon!!

Enjoy!!

This is an Orange Lodge drum LOL 159? - known as the Knocknadona Ship 

This drum is owned by T. Richardson, Duneight -  Ship of the Empire 

Owned by Blagh Orange Lodge LOL 256 - Remember Derry, Mountjoy & Phoenix

Mountjoy at the Boom - Owner not known

This drum is owned by W. Dilworth, Portadown - known as Admiral Lord Nelson - it shows HMS Victory

HMA

Battle of the Boyne - Loughries Visit 2012

As planned Loughries trip to the Boyne Battlefield at Oldgrange, Drogheda, Co. Louth - took place on Saturday 24th March 2012. 

The weather was perfect - with warm early spring sunshine accompanying us throughout the day. 

After leaving Newtownards we arrived on schedule at 11am to the impressive new visitors centre, where we were met by our tour guide Mary. Sadly we were not permitted to take photograph's inside the visitors centre, however the 45 minutes or so we spent in the visitors centre was quite interesting. 

Now, the tour does not go too in-depth into the battle, but it does give a reasonable explanation of the events in June / July 1690.

There is a beautiful walled garden to the rear of the visitors centre, where we had tea, coffee and scones - in glorious sunshine!

The Battlefield site is a vast open area with a lot of picnic areas and signed walks - which many local people appear to use for exercise etc. Our group spent a couple of hours walking around the battlefield on the south side of the river Boyne, we also 'crossed the Boyne river' to the north side where King William's army had attacked from.

Following the 2 1/2 hours at the visitors centre and battle-field site we made our way into Drogheda town for  1 1/2 hours leisure time - then we travelled home arriving back in Newtownards at 5.30pm.

  

Visitors Booklet

Sign at the entrance to Visitors Centre

The impressive gate entrance to visitors centre

The beautiful visitors centre building

A few of Loughries members 

Inside visitors booklet - walking guide

North side of the Boyne river - where the Boyne Obelisk used to be - it was blown up by IRA terrorists.

Overview of the Boyne site inside booklet

The river Boyne midway across the old road bridge

In all, a great day out for members of Loughries - it is good to keep the group engaged with trips like this which has had a profound effect on Ulster History.

Next event on Loughries is the unfurling of our New Orange Banner in June....... keep looking in for details.

HMA