Glens Of Antrim Historical Society
Formed in 1965 & recognised as one of the foremost Historical Societies in Ireland
ACROSS ANCESTRAL GROUND: James G. Kenny It’s not every Mid-Antrim farmer who, around the sixty mark, exchanges the pitchfork for the pen, but then his fellows know that James G. Kenny is exceptional. Often involved in consciously controversial correspondence in the local press, he must be more profitably occupied when digging into the history … 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
Aghnadore Achadh na dobhair Field of the Water Artibrannon Ard tigh Brannon The hill of Brennan’s house Ballee Baile Liath Grey townland Ballycloghan Baile clochan Townland of the stones Ballyclosh Baile claise Townland of the trench Ballygarvey Baile garbhaich Rough townland Ballyloughan Baile lochan Townland of the chaff or winnowing Ballywatermo Baile uachtair maigh … Read more
Patrick Joseph Murray was born near Cushendun on 8th March 1872 and died in Glasgow, 84 years’ later. During the last war his youngest son asked for an account of his early life, and this followed in a series of letters. The letters have an interest well beyond family history, for they recall an … Read more
Long, long before our Historical Society was thought of, and the only tourist boards were diving boards, Mary Stone of Cushendall was a one-woman historical society and her wee shop a tourist information centre. The forties were fast fading away when she brightened my day, and my life, by telling me that there was a … 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
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Reeves, Keeper of the Armagh Public Library, 1861—1886 described the Terrier, or Ledger Book of Down and Connor, originally made out in 1615, “of great value as a connecting link between the records before and after the Reformation, showing the condition of the dioceses in their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
Environmental Resources Analysis Ltd. Natural Resources Development Centre. Trinity College Dublin. 1. THE NOTION OF HERITAGE Heritage is a word whose meaning has become greatly enlarged and enriched in popular understanding in recent years. Twenty five years ago it would have meant cultural heritage. But at its root, the word ‘heritage’ means all … Read more
The Society wishes to thank the following for their excellent lectures: Mr Eull Dunlop James Carter’s Journal 15.9.1989 Mr. Ernie Cromie Military Aircraft Crashes in North Antrim 20.10.1989 Mr. Hugh A. Boyd Memories of Cushendall 17.11.1989 Mr. T. Blackman The Changing Agenda for Town & Country Planning 15.12.1989 Mr. Jon Marshall The … Read more
Editorial Page 3 Environmental Heritage Resources in the Irish Landscape John Feehan Page 4 The Terrier of North Connor Hugh A. Boyd Page 10 Retreat from Kintyre: The evidence of Names Alasdair Roberts Page 14 John Hewitt’s Chosen Ground Jack McCann Page 23 Learning the Ropes Patrick Murray Page 27 Place-names of Ballymena … Read more