Beautiful Dreamer (Stephen Foster)

There have been many cover versions of this tune by the great Stephen Foster - from The Beattles to Marti Robbins - here is a gentle version of a wonderful gentle tune.

HMA

Ulster Scots - Lambeg Drums 14

The Pride of Drumadonald - Dolly's Brae - Drum owned by George Priestly, Rathfriland.

There is a great tune 'South Down Malitia' and an Orange song 'Dolly's Brae'.

Dolly's Brae is a road with a difficult pass in County Down. On July 12, 1848, a large assembly of Ribbonmen gathered with the intent of stopping the traditional march of Orangemen to Tollymore. The Orangemen were forewarned and avoided the Brae that year. Naturally, the opposition had a field day with that and songs appeared about their cowardice. So in 1849, the Orangemen went through the Brae without problem. On the return from Castlewellan, they were ambushed at the Brae. They were prepared for such an eventuality and their return fire dropped over a score of men, without sustaining any losses themselves.

Dolly's Brae was an exclusively Catholic village, and the Orange Order had never marched through it before. The government had been warned that in 1849 they had decided to use this route and, in anticipation of the likelihood of trouble in Dolly's Brae, they sent a company of dragoons, additional police, and magistrates to the village. They allowed the march to go ahead, however. The march through Dolly's Brae on the morning of the twelfth was peaceful, even though the Orangeman were described as being "armed to the teeth" and they sang anti-Catholic songs as they passed through the village.

The dead included Hugh King, a 10-year-old who died of gunshot wounds, and Anne Taylor, an 85-year-old woman whose death was caused by her skull being struck with a blunt instrument. In the afternoon, the Orange lodges from the surrounding areas met at the estate of Lord Roden in Castlewellan, he urged them to "do their duty as loyal, Protestant men." About 1,500 Orangemen returned through Dolly's Brae in the evening. By this stage, about 500 Catholics had gathered in the village, armed with muskets or pikes. The conflict was triggered by the firing of a single gunshot, later reports attributed it to the Catholic side. The fighting was swift and brutal, but the military and constabulary initially did not get involved in the conflict or attempt to stop it. By the time they did intervene, ten houses and the Catholic Church had been burnt to the ground. Five Catholics also had been killed and nine others badly wounded. The dead included Hugh King, a 10-year-old boy who died of gunshot wounds, and Anne Taylor, an-85-year-old woman, whose death was caused by her skull being struck with a blunt instrument. Thirty-five Catholics were arrested, but no Orangemen.

The incident at Dolly's Brae quickly became embedded in unionist mythology as a significant victory of Protestantism over Catholicism. Lord Roden was proclaimed the hero of the day. A long-term consequence of the incident at Dolly's Brae was the passing of a Party Processions Act in 1850 that banned the July 12th marches in Ireland. This legislation had only limited success. Some marches continued to be held and in 1857, 1864, and 1867 they were accompanied by violent sectarian fighting. On each occasion, the police, the military, and the government proved reluctant to intervene to stop the parades, even though they were illegal. Instead, in 1872 the marches were again made legal as a way of appeasing Orangemen in Ireland.

HMA

Ulster Scots - Lambeg Drums 13

This drum is of Oliver Cromwell - called Cromwell the Terror of Killylea - owned by Gary Brown.

A little of Cromwell - Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 – 3 September 1658) was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

He was one of the commanders of the New Model Army which defeated the royalists in the English Civil War. After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, Cromwell dominated the short-lived Commonwealth of England, conquered Ireland and Scotland, and ruled as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death from malaria in 1658.

HMA

Blue is the Colour

Well, if you are like me and a life long Chelsae supporter, then the last few weeks have been exhilarating. The Blues have a knack of keeping their loyal and trusted supporters on edge right until the last minute - so here we go again.

Chelsea deserve to win the Premiership this season and I am confident they will lift the trophy on Sunday - and yes lift the FA Cup as well in the coming weeks.

In the 1990's I was a regular at 'The Bridge' in the infamous 'Shed End' cheering on the blues. I met many characters and had great times - I have not been at the Bridge since 1999 - by choice. I tended to misbehave very badly - so best to stay at home and be a good boy and watch the matches from the comfort of my own living room chair - only occasionally, annoying the neighbours with a loud roar from time to time!

Come on the Blues - The champagne is cooling!

HMA

Planting 2

Well, planting completed in the main vegetable patch - 15 drills of potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beetroot and spring onions all in the ground awaiting rain and heat.

Around the walled part of the garden I have all the onions, garlic, beetroot, leeks shallots - they are coming on well now after the rain in recent days.

I have a few Ulster recipes that I would like to try this year using some of the items I planted, garlic and scallion potato bread sounds good!

HMA

New Image

I thought I would have a go at growing a goattie beard in the last few weeks -here it is. What do you think? I had a lot of strange looks, whispering and some great laughs with the children in schools, not to mention funny comments at home.

Well the experiment lasted 3 weeks - I shaved it off tonight and I feel rather bare with nothing to scratch when I rub my chin!

I spoke to Mrs Anderson face to face after tea, then went up to the bathroom, shaved it off and came back down - continued my chat and yes, Mrs A did not notice I had shaved it off -ah well.

HMA

Ulster Scots Musical Traditions at Movilla Boys Brigade

Movilla Boys Brigade in Newtownards has taken the unusual step of adding a little 'Musical Tradition' to their Annual Display Night. Over the recent weeks I have been working with the Company Section, firstly providing a workshop on traditional Fife & Lambeg Drum, then a series of tuition classes on the lambeg drum, with the objective of working towards a performance at their display night.

The boys have worked very hard and have had great fun learning something new - some of the boys have enjoyed the classes at the BB so much, that they have subsequently been attending classes at Movilla High School in Newtownards, that I commenced within the school recently.

Friday 7th May sees is their display night - so this coming week I will be up at the Church for a practice of two ironing out minor problems with the drummers, but I am confident the boys will perform very well for their friends and family.

This has been an unusual class - in that not many churches or organisations connected to a Church have yet come forward to embrace or explore Ulster Scots Activities, however in time I am confident that this will change, as the Ulster Scots Tradition and associated Cultures becomes more mainstream.

HMA