Glens Of Antrim Historical Society
Formed in 1965 & recognised as one of the foremost Historical Societies in Ireland
The next in the series of monthly lectures organised by the Glens of Antrim Historical Society will take place on Friday 19th April 2024 at 8.00pm, in the usual venue of St Mary’s Parish Centre, Cushendall. The speaker on this occasion will be Iain Bradley and the subject of his illustrated talk will … Read more
Meeke and the Major on Friday 16th November at 8pm in St Mary’s Parish Centre, Cushendall. Join us for an evening of reflection and shared history respectfully remembering key historical events from 100 years ago commemorating the end of WW1. Featuring a local community performance set in 1917, it tell the story of Private John … Read more
THE FIRST WORLD WAR: My father was at the Battle of the Somme and came through it. He wasn’t really 18 but he let on he was 18. He was a few weeks off it. He was a shoemaker, he cobbled. My mother was 25 when she got married. My father was the same age, … Read more
…will be Leonard Quigg, a committee member of the Glens of Antrim Historical Society, and the subject of his illustrated presentation will be “Robert Quigg V.C. – a Bushmills Hero.” Rifleman (later Sergeant) Robert Quigg was a soldier in The Royal Irish Rifles during The Great War of 1914 – 1918 and he was awarded … Read more
Derek Smyth will look at the role Ireland played in the great war and at the circumstances surrounding the recruitment, enlistment and the return of Irishmen as veterans of the so-called ‘war to end all wars’ In total, about 210,000 Irishmen served in the British forces during World War One. Since there was no … Read more
While researching the White Documents in the Public Records Office (D2861)* I came across the following account of John White’s experiences as a Lieutenant in the 36th Herefordshire Regiment during the time of the Peninsular War. The extract contains four handwritten foolscap sheets. There is no trace of any other journal among these White … Read more
When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, Glens people were apprehensive as to how their lives would be affected. Would their many men in the Merchant Navy be safe? Would foodstuffs be scarce? How would the farmer fare? Answers soon evolved. Rationing of basic foods such as sugar, butter, tea and bacon … Read more
This article originally appeared in The Glynns Volume 30 (2002). It is reproduced here in full. After the defeat of the McDonnells of Antrim by Shane O’Neill in 1565, Sorley Boy McDonnell was taken to Dungannon where he was imprisoned for two years. By this time O’Neill had created many enemies including the Maguires of … Read more