Glens Of Antrim Historical Society
Formed in 1965 & recognised as one of the foremost Historical Societies in Ireland
An apparently simple family name like Black can present quite a problem of identification. Its very simplicity makes it universal as a descriptive name and even in our small country it can come to us from several sources. In England and Scotland the name can derive from the Old English word “blaec” or “blac” meaning … Read more
Killycrappin is one of those private corners of Ireland for which we have no evidence that it has ever been anything else. It is on that part of the steep coast of Antrim which runs from just north of Carnlough to Garron Point and is know as the ‘Largy’. (Leargaidh – the side or … Read more
“Townlands are one of the most dominant, albeit invisible features of our Ulster landscapes. The townland is the smallest administrative division in the country and all other territorial divisions are made up of collections of townlands. They are of great antiquity and there is evidence of their existence before the 12th century. Documents have survived … Read more
The picture of Sorley Boy MacDonnell lighting beacons on the Antrim shore to call up reinforcements from Argyll encourages Glens people to see the relationship between Scotland and the north-east corner of Ireland as one of invasion and eventual occupation. According to this version, the contact begun by ‘gallowglass’ mercenaries from the Isles in the … Read more