Andrew's Memorial - Comber

I visited a good friend on Friday, George Mawhinney (principal Castle Gardens Primary School) whilst discussing the planned Ulster Scots Summer School, I noticed a book on George's desk - A Titanic Memorial, The Andrew's Memorial Hall.

Now that the whole Titanic hullabaloo has died down, it is good to read up on a few bits n pieces of the lesser known aspects of the Titanic Legacy!

I don't have too many connections to Comber, however I am interested in Local History - so very well done to the school, keeping history alive!!

HMA

Cookstown - Lambeg Drum Competition 4

Finally, the last selection of drums from Cookstown - all in all a great selection of drums with various themes, historical themed, famous people, family memorial drums and plain shells - some with ribbons.

Thanks for lookin in!!

HMA

Cookstown - Lambeg Drum Competition 3

I meant to post these a few weeks back, sadly I have been very busy with other things, nevertheless I have found a bit of time to upload a few more drums that were at the Cookstown Drumming Competition on Easter Tuesday.

I don't know the names of the people who own these drums, I do recognise their faces, sadly I don't attend as many drumming competitions that I would like to, however hopefully that will change in time.

Enjoy the photo's.

HMA

The Story of Ireland - Fergal Keane

I caught a short glimpse of this TV series a while back, but did not get to see it all. One of my favourite journalists is Fergal Keane, I admire his passion, presentation skills and his balanced reporting. Fergal presents this DVD Irish history story........ when I get time I will hopefully get to see it.

This next few words is taken from the RTE web site......

The Story of Ireland - a groundbreaking new series presented by Fergal Keane about the history of Ireland - cultural, social, and economic, and its role on the international stage.

The Story Of Ireland is a five-part landmark history of Ireland, to be presented by Fergal Keane.

Ireland is living through a significant period in its cycle of history - since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the island has been at peace. This is unprecedented in the history of modern Ireland and so seems like a perfect time to reflect on the Irish as a people now, as a modern European nation, and how we got to this place.

The big ambition of this telling of the story is that it should be expansive and outward looking. When the previous television history series was told by the historian Robert Kee in 1981, Ireland was in a very different place, at war with itself in the north and economically ravaged in the south. The series naturally reflected those conditions and primarily viewed our story through the prism of our troubled relationship with our nearest neighbour.

This series will show us that this view is narrow and self - limiting. The Story of Irelandwill look at the evolution of the country in a world context and will show that as an island people our very DNA has been formed by successive waves of peoples coming from outside and that we in turn have travelled and influenced world events for nearly 2000 years.

As a BBC foreign correspondent, Fergal Keane has nurtured a world view of current affairs and history for over 20 years and will act as a knowing and trustful guide for this new Story of Ireland.

The story of Ireland is vivid, exciting and immensely varied. It is far more than the sum of old cliches and myths which set the Irish as a people who were prisoners and victims of history. This series sees Ireland as an international island which is both changed by and helps to change the world beyond her shores. As a foreign correspondent who has traveled on every continent I have tried to bring my experience of the wider world to this story of Ireland and. I have tried to see our past with a clear eye and an open heart.

HMA

Family History - Who Do You Think You Are?

Each month I buy the family history magazine - Who Do You Think You Are, I find it a great read and most helpful. It is full of tips and time cutting ideas for tracing your family history.

I sadly don't have too much spare time at the moment and I should really make more time for this, nevertheless I am still chipping away gathering information here and there. It is vitally important to everyone is to know who you are and where you came from....... including as Mr Cromwell noted 'Warts and All !!'

HMA

Ulster Scots Words - Tangle

Whilst I don't consider myself a natural Ulster Scots speaker, I do read a little and speak a little (does this make me bilingual), however my vocabulary is a way short of those I converse with regularly.

During a recent conversation with Eric Cully (Portavogie Fisherman) he joking called me 'a big tangle!' He being a very good friend was having a laugh, I laughed and asked what a tangle was? Eric laughed then asked me to 'go an fin oot'.

I called my Ulster Scots walking encyclopaedia - Darren, he was able to tell me that a tangle was a long piece of seaweed, like a stick shaped, here is a photo Darren sent.

Also, if you are from the Ards Peninsula or should I say from below the floodgates in Newtownards a tangle is in my case 'a big skinny fella!'

Well, I was naturally pleased as recently I have lost almost 3 stone - so I take it as a compliment.

Note - I used to do a bit of courting in Ballywalter, when the girl and I split up she referred to me as 'a big lang drink o water'!!

Ah well........

HMA

Cookstown - Lambeg Drum Competition 2

As mentioned in previous post - here are a few of the young lads strutting their stuff in Cookstown.

HMA