Glens Of Antrim Historical Society
Formed in 1965 & recognised as one of the foremost Historical Societies in Ireland
A Royal Commission in 1622 reported that, “in the diocese of Down and Connor, only 16 churches were fit for the celebration of Divine ordnance, while 150 churches and chapels were decayed or in ruins”. In this short article, I am confining my survey to the modern Catholic parishes of Glenariffe, Cushendall, Cushendun and Glenravel. … Read more
Bishop William Reeves, Keeper of the Armagh Public Library, 1861—1886 described the Terrier, or Ledger Book of Down and Connor, originally made out in 1615, “of great value as a connecting link between the records before and after the Reformation, showing the condition of the dioceses in their traditional state”. The Terrier refers throughout to … Read more
An introduction to one of the oldest and most important historical sites in the Glens of Antrim by leading local archaeologist, Dr Colm Donnelly QUB. Malachy Mc Sparran writes in ‘Survey of LAYDE GRAVEYARD’ pub. Glens of Antrim Historical Society…. “The Church is thought to have been founded by the sept McFall and … Read more
Patrick Close:- Where, last August, would you have found a bishop, a Japanese professor, a bus load of unemployed people from the W.E.A. in Belfast, the Provost of Trinity College, a distinguished American photographer, Sean O’Casey’s daughter-in-law, a couple of Swedish academics, as well as a proliferation of poets, journalists and entertainers? St. MacNissi’s … Read more
Eull Dunlop:- In the Old Churchyard, Ballymena, there is a gravestone which will be noted by those interested in Presbyterianism in Glenarm, a topic aired in The Glynns (1981) by S. Alex Blair. The stone records the death on 1 June 1899, at the age of 84, of Anne, daughter of John Atkinson and … Read more
Harry Hume:- About a mile west of the village of Clough stands the present church or “meeting house” of one of the oldest Presbyterian congregations in Ireland. The origins of this congregation go back to the early days of the Scottish Plantation when the first Presbyterians came and settled in the lands of the Parish … Read more
Documentary material for any of the Third Order Franciscan friaries in Ireland is scanty, and so we are fortunate in having a fair amount of information about the one at Glenarm. I think it would be helpful to say first a little about the development of this order. St. Francis of Assisi founded … Read more
INTRODUCTION In the course of an archaeological excavation in Deer Park Farms near Glenarm, carried out in 1985 by the Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch of the Department of the Environment (N.I.), the writer’s attention was drawn to a collection of carved stones housed in Glenarm Castle. Mr. Robert Morrow, Estate Manager, wished to … Read more
In the middle years of the 18th century 1740-1766 the Irish Parliament called for religious returns. The 1740 Return is solely Protestant householders: Ring Hanna, Dan McBride, Joh McBride, Wid Sharp, Thos Sharp, John Fullerton, Jas Robison, Wid McNeal, Joh Moor, Wid Colmann, ffield Way, Wid McNeal, Hu McCormick, Arch McDonal, Wid McDonal, Wid Teale, Joh … Read more