When Jimmy and Honor Irvine came to live in Lemnalary House near Carnlough they brought new life to that historic house and at the same time enlivened the Glens of Antrim Historical Society, of which both were Life Members. While the records of the Society underline Jimmy’s vast contribution to its development, from his coming till his death, he would have been the first to acknowledge that Honor shared his vision and that her understanding and support of his history-making, with her own thoughtful home-making, made life in lovely Lemnalary memorably happy. Sadly they had to leave the Glens earlier than either had hoped and it was Belfast that was to see the last of each of them. Honor survived Jimmy by some three years, then last year she passed away as quietly as she had lived in glen or city.
In the peace of the Glens Honor’s talent as a water-colourist came to light and many folk are fortunate to have paintings by her of plant-life and places in the Glens. Yet even more folk appreciate that as long as the Glens of Antrim Historical Society exists the name ‘Honor Irvine’ will be remembered in the Glens for every issue of our magazine The Glynns carries on its cover our logo — Honor Irvine’s sketch of Red Bay Castle. A valued life member may have gone from among us but our sweet memory of her lives on and on.
Jack McCann