|
This year Ballyclare and District Historical Society celebrated the Tenth Year of providing this popular series of Summer Walks beginning with a May Fair Week Special. All the walks are free and open to anyone. We meet once a fortnight on a Thursday evening for a pleasant walk in good company. We include some stories about the history of the places along the way to encourage everyone to learn more about our local history. This year all six walks were is under blue skies and there were never less that sixty taking part.
Thursday 27th May - Ballyclare Heritage Trail
A much requested repeat of the original walk featured in the printed trails leaflet. On a fine evening we traced the history of the area from the flint tool makers of four thousand years ago to a Norman frontier post, a plantation settlement, a centre of rebellion, a market town then 'paper town'. The group - many of whom were joining for the first time - was photographed on the Norman motte in the park at the start of the walk.
Thursday 24th June - Around the Walls of Carrickfergus -
After John de Courcey built the castle a walled settlement grew up with fortified gates. Charles McConnell, author of several books on the history of Carrickfergus, took us on a walk around the walls followed by a visit to the church of St. Nicholas where we heard the story of Sir Arthur Chichester.
Thursday 8th July - Antrim Riverside
In 1798 Antrim was the setting of a battle which could have changed the course of Irish history. The Norman motte still remains but only a single tower is left of the later castle. The group walked through the gardens which copied those at Versailles and along the riverside to Lough Neagh. In the photo some are following the Lovers' Path beside one of the water features.
Thursday 22nd July - Cave Hill and Belfast Castle
People have lived on the Cave Hill for thousands of years but after the Plantation the lands became Chichester's hunting estate. His original castle was in what is now Castle Place in the heart of the city. The present Belfast Castle is a much later building. The United Irishmen swore an oath on the peak to end sectarian strife and after the Battle of Antrim in June of 1798 Henry Joy McCracken hid here and fell in love. One hundred and five people plus two dogs took part in this walk on a fine summer evening.
Thursday 5th August - Loughside and the White House
It was here that the army of William of Orange landed and the commanders met in the White House, the oldest building in Newtownabbey. Our group was received by Bob Armstrong of the Whitehouse Preservation Trust and had an opportunity to explore the structure. The area along the lough shore is now an attractive place to walk and eighty one of us did just that hearing stories about sea battles on the lough, pirates and famous locals.
Thursday 19th August - Larne - Settlers and Emigrants
Meet at the Tourist Office The rich supply of flint brought neolithic men, Vikings found shelter in the Lough and in the Sixteenth and early Seventeenth Centuries many of the new settlers landed here in the Plantation of Ulster. Later it was the departure point for emigrants going to America and the port for the ill fated Princess Victoria. Before the creation of the Coast Road the people of the Glens found it easier to row aross to Scotland than to attempt to reach Larne.
Walks last about two hours and we assemble from 6.45pm usually at a car park While the pace will be relaxed participants are responsible for their own health and safety.
|
