People
Edward Bunting – A precious gift of the melodies of our native bards
Edward Bunting was a celebrated musician who gifted us a precious inheritance of the matchless melodies of our native bards…
Places
Marquis Street, Belfast – Let There Be Light!
Marquis Street today is an abandoned thoroughfare, its long history forgotten but it played a surprising part in Belfast's development.
Forgotten Folk
James Gill – The Extraordinary Tale of Newry’s Defiant Steeplejack
The extraordinary true story of Newry's James Gill, a steeplejack who became a national celebrity for evading jail by sitting on a chimney
True Stories
June 1876 News – A Body Found at Clogher and a Car Accident at Meigh
What was being reported in our local newspapers 150 years ago? Read some of the news & stories of June 1876
Places
The House of Correction – Belfast’s terrifying city centre prison
How many walking down Howard Street in Belfast today realise that it once hosted Belfast's "House of Correction" - a prison to be feared!
Stories
May 1876 News – Blazing Billiard Balls and a Flight to Remember
What was being reported in our local newspapers 150 years ago? Read some of the news & stories of May 1876
Forgotten Folk
Cushendall – A Colourful Village with a Colourful History
Cushendall, County Antrim is a pretty, friendly, colourful and busy village with a colourful history to match.
True Stories
April 1876 News – “Walking on the Moon”
What was being reported in our local newspapers 150 years ago? Read some of the news & stories of April 1876
Historical Places
Church Lane, Belfast – Skeletons, bars and ‘Bullseye Braithwaite’
A small 17th‑century street, Church Lane has an impressive history featuring a myriad of occupants, ghosts, bars and ‘Bullseye Braithwaite’
Places
The Ancient Church of Ardclinis, its Crozier and its Fairy Tree
Travelling along the Antrim Coast Road, the ancient church of Ardclinis (and its Fairy Tree) in a picturesque setting is well worth a visit.
Forgotten Folk
William Sampson – Equality Advocate on both sides of the Atlantic
Lawyer William Sampson dedicated his life to the ideals of democracy and justice both in Ireland and in his subsequent exile in America,
Places
Belfast’s Forgotten Streets and Corners
Belfast has ‘lost’ many quirkily named streets, lanes and alleys over the years, among them Cooney's Court, Bluebell Entry and Elbow Lane
Stories
March 1876 News – A Duel, a Ghost and the “Pretty Girls’ Fund”
The newspapers of March 1876 delivered a variety of stories including deadly duel, a Newfoundland Ghost and a "Pretty Girls' Fund"
Stories
The Newtownstewart Murder Trial – An “extraordinary case”
The Newtownstewart Bank Murder Trial - “the most extraordinary case ever tried in this or any other country”
Forgotten Folk
Edward Benn – A Tale of Three Belfast Hospitals
Despite enduring poor health during his own life, Edward Benn's charitable donations did much to relieve the suffering of many in Belfast
Stories
The Giant’s Causeway Hydroelectric Tramway – A World’s First!
The Giant's Causeway Hydroelectric Tramway was the world's first example of renewable-powered public transport,
Historical Places
Lombard Street – Legg’s Lane, the Curiosity Shop & Gutta-percha
Lombard Street, Belfast replaced Legg's Lane and Caddell's Entry as a popular business location featuring the Curiosity Shop and Gutta-percha
Historical Places
The Unforgettable Dunluce Castle – A Brief History
The picturesque ruins and history of Dunluce Castle "are not surpassed by any on the entire coasts of the British Isles” (McComb’s Guide to Belfast, 1861)
Historical Places
Academy Street, Belfast – Teenage Rebellion, Oddfellows Hall and the Blitz!
Today Academy Street, Belfast is an unremarkable thoroughfare. Its forgotten history has much of interest including an armed student revolt.
Historical Places
Castle Upton, Templars Town – An Eventful History
Castle Upton - An eventful history including the Knights Hospitaller, the Norton Family, the Upton Family and the Hearts of Steel
Historical Places
Wilson’s Court – The Story of a Belfast Entry and its Northern Star
Wilson's Court is a neglected narrow Belfast alley. It was once such a populous, busy and important thoroughfare!
Stories
The Armagh Rail Disaster – Ireland’s Worst Ever Train Crash
On 12th June 1889 Ireland suffered its worst ever rail disaster with 80 dead and hundreds injured. A fun excursion ending as a nightmare.
Places
Portaferry – A History
Portaferry, on the beautiful shore of Strangford Lough is a lovely and exceptionally friendly place to visit.
Forgotten Folk
“Barney Maglone” – The Life of Robert Arthur Wilson
Robert A Wilson (Barney Maglone) “An able journalist, a gifted poet, a fearless and unflinching advocate for the rights of the people”
Historical Places
St John’s Church, the Hill of Donegore and the “End of the World”
The tale of the ancient hill of Donegore, St John’s Church and its "corpse house", and the "End of the World"
Stories
The Cooneen Ghost – “The Ghost that wouldn’t stay at home”
The Ghost That Wouldn't Stay at Home! The story of the Murphy family of County Fermanagh and their haunting by the Cooneen Ghost
Forgotten Folk
Reverend William Bristow – A Champion of the Poor of Belfast
The Rev William Bristow is largely forgotten today but his efforts to improve the lives of the Belfast's poor deserve to be remembered.
Historical Places
York Street – The Co-Op, the Metropole, the Blitz and Regeneration
York Street - Once "Belfast's Noblest Street" with a history of commercial success, Blitz devastation , decline and, lately, regeneration
Forgotten Folk
Saint Cooey’s Wells at Temple Cooey
Temple Cooey and St Cooey's Wells have been a pilgrimage site from, at least, the 13th century with an annual pilgrimage every June
Historical Places
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge – Don’t Look Down!
The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, one of Co. Antrim’s most popular tourist attractions, spans a gap of 66ft to the tiny island of Carrickarede.
