MAY EVE
MAY EVE My spirit’s sad tonight, bright queen, my soul is sad tonight, Sad as the last shake-hands that parts a loved one from our sight; Along the narrowing landscape the corncrake’s piping trill Is the only murmur like my heart, that won’t be keeping still. Thy brow is wreathed with flowers, bright queen; along […]
MCCAUGHREN, ARTHUR COMING OF WINTER
COMING OF WINTER Coming o’er the hilly landscape, Treading on the rocks and rivers, Cutting down the fading flowers, Comes the young and cruel Winter, With his sword of ice all frozen That has killed the scented valleys. Down the hillside steep and lonely All the birds are dumb and silent, For the winter now […]
MCCAUGHREN, ARTHUR WHEN WINTER COMES
WHEN WINTER COMES The frost at night-time sallies from his tent, And o’er the land his icy seed he sows, That by the sun is eaten ‘fore it grows To show the message that its master sent. Upon one work the glowing sun is bent, To kill the frost before the cold wind blows, Or […]
MCCREADY, DORA OCTOBER
OCTOBER (Written during a particularly early frost) October is a starving month With all its starving looks. It makes the air so sharp and cold, And freezes all the brooks. Now trees are drooping down, For hardships they are here; Leaves are hurled to the dead, damp ground, Trembling with fear, trembling with fear. Dora […]
MCCREADY, HERBERT DECEMBER
DECEMBER Dreary frosts are on the ground, Save for winds there’s not a sound, The beeches whisper soft. Leaves now pile in golden heaps; From the wall the blue-tit peeps, And views the tree aloft. In the field the ploughman now Wrestles with his creaking plough, Behind him hungry crows Follow up his sandy neck, […]
MCCREADY, HERBERT SUMMER
SUMMER Gentle summer now is coming, Singing are the busy builders, Humming is the scented meadow, Hissing goes the dimpling streamlet, Soon the rose-bush will be laden With its velvet, bowing blossoms. Then the clumsy bee will wander O’er its fleshy, clustering petals, Then like someone deep in study, Staring at the same old grass-blade, […]
MCCREADY, HERBERT WHAT THE FLAX SAYS
WHAT THE FLAX SAYS The farmer sows me with his veiny hand, And scatters me o’er his hilly land. To see the birds I lift my head, And watch their offspring in their bed. With my little blue eye I look at the trees, And hear fly o’er me the busy bees. I bow to […]
MCWILLIAMS, HANNA SUMMER
SUMMER Summer, Summer now approaching, shooting forth its colours bright; In the meadows see the cuckoo, landed from its tiresome flight. In the byre hear the swallow, busy in its half-made home; It has now come back to our land, back across the bubbling foam. Hanna McWilliams Age 11 Tullygrawley School
MCWILLIAMS, HANNA THE WINDS
THE WINDS Oh, the north-east winds blow fiercely Off cold Norway’s frozen mountains; Now they boasting come to see us, Shaking all our trees and hedgerows. Hanna McWilliams Age 10 Tullygrawley School
MEMORIES
MEMORIES I was born and reared in Heatherton I’m sure you know it well The house where we lived belonged to A man called R D Caldwell We didn’t have too many luxuries Just a good upbringing in life We were taught to respect other people Not a word was ere said about strife To […]
MERELY MISSED
MERELY MISSED Lines suggested on hearing the Rev James Pyper, B. A., Duncairn Presbyterian Church, Belfast, preach a sermon in connection with the united anniversary service of the Ballymena Young Men’s Christian Association in the First Presbyterian Church, Ballymena, on Sunday evening, 29th November, 1914. Mr Pyper, who some years ago very faithfully ministered to […]
MISC INFORMATION
BUICK MEMORIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL CRAIGS PRIMARY SCHOOL DUNMINNING PRIMARY SCHOOL LOAN PRIMARY SCHOOL TULLYGRAWLEY HISTORY
MISS ELLA YOUNG
ELLA YOUNG 26th December 1867–23rd July 1956 Eldest child of James Bristow Young and his wife Matilda, nee Russell, Ella, or Ellen as stated on her birth certificate was born in the townland of Fenagh on 26th December 1867. Ella’s parents were married in the Cullybackey Reformed Presbyterian Church on 10th August 1866. Ella was […]
MISS EUNICE LORRAINE KENNEDY 6th April 1927-23rd September 1985
MISS EUNICE LORRAINE KENNEDY 6th April-23rd September 1985 Born on the 6th April 1927 to a Welsh mother and a County Antrim father, Eunice Lorraine Kennedy began writing in her early teens and in the following years had poems published in magazines and articles in the “Belfast Telegraph.” Educated at Ballymena Academy, Lorraine, was […]
MISS MARGARET LEETCH
MISS MARGARET LEETCH Miss Leetch spent all her life in the village and was brought up under the teaching of Mr and Mrs Craig. She was first a monitress in Cullybackey, and afterwards went for a time to the Ballymena Model School. She returned to Cullybackey about 1870 as […]
MOONLIGHT ON THE MAINE
MOONLIGHT ON THE MAINE When I was just a wee bit lad I went fishing in the Maine, My mother used to say to me Don’t you go back again, But now my race is nearly run And I’m a homesick swain, I’d like to go back to Cullybackey And dwell beside the Maine. I’ve […]
MORTON, META RAIN
RAIN See, the silent rain is falling Gently on the frozen furrows. Soon the farmer will be sowing Seeds on ground by raindrops watered, And the grass and plants and flowers With new sweetness will be growing. Meta Morton Age 11 Tullygrawley School
MORTON, META WHAT I LOVE
WHAT I LOVE I love the sparkling streamlets, And the meadows through which they flow. I love the purple-tinted hills, Where the whin and heather grow, Where the hares and rabbits merrily play, And birds sing loud through the Summer day. I love to see the stately trees, And the hedges so fresh and […]
MOYASSET SCHOOL STAFF
MOYASSET SCHOOL STAFF William James Kernohan:- Principal Presbyterian married appointed 01/10/1880 Born 1/11/1862 trained 1887/8 Marlbro left 01/04/1926 Janie Watson:- Assistant Presbyterian Single Born 13/11/1877 appointed 01/04/1909 (not trained) David A Porter:- Principal, Presbyterian single appointed 01/11/1938 Born 14/04/1909 Marlbro St Joanna Humpherys:- Assistant Presbyterian – English Church, appointed 01/11/1938 Born 29/11/1889 Kildare St Martha […]
MOYLARG TOWNLAND
Moylarg, Magh Learg, meaning the plain of the slopes is situated in the Barony of Lower Toome and contains 332 acres 0 roods and 9 perches. Samuel Brown Wylie First Reformed Presbyterian Minister Installed in America was born at Moylarg on 23rd May 1773 Population in 1881 – 181 Population in 1891 – 130
MR ANDREW KENNEDY, J.P.
MR ANDREW KENNEDY, J. P. Andrew Kennedy was born in June 1846 at Tullyreagh, Glarryford, son of the late Andrew Kennedy, linen merchant. He was educated at Dunminning, Carnbeg and private tuition. He was a Justice of the Peace for County Antrim, a County Councillor for the Galgorm Division, and Chairman of the Ballymena Rural […]
MR EDMUND MCNEILL D. L.
MR EDMUND MCNEILL D. L. 29th November 1821-28th September 1915 Edmund McNeill passed away at the advanced age of ninety-four on the 28th September 1915 at Petworth, in the South of England the residence of his daughter Mrs Penrose, with whom he had been living for the last five years of his life. Proportionately built […]
MR JAMES LOGAN
MR JAMES LOGAN 1842-24th February 1924 James Logan was born in Moneysharvin, near Upperlands, and taught in Limavady before coming to Cullybackey in 1870. He was a strong-featured man with a goatee beard and a keen sense of discipline. He was very successful as a teacher in Cullybackey, or as is written in the book,“Cullybackey […]
MR JAMES MCGAVOCK
MR JAMES MCGAVOCK 1st October 1880- Born on the 1st October 1880, James McGavock, a native of Carnlough, came to Cullybackey with a good record. He had been a pupil teacher in Sligo Model School, and assistant teacher in Guy’s Boys’ School, Ballymena. From Guy’s he went to Dublin for training, and, after completion of […]
MR JOHN FRAZER
MR JOHN FRAZER 5th September 1848-27th March 1910 Mr John Frazer, at one time head of Frazer and Haughton Ltd., linen manufacturers and bleachers of Cullybackey and Belfast, was one of the best known members of the Irish linen trade. Born on 5th September 1848 at Astley Bridge, Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire, the only son of the […]
MR JOHN GIVEN
MR JOHN GIVEN 1st January 1813-27th February 1883 Mr John Given was the first teacher to leave his mark on the educational life of Cullybackey. According to the headstone which indicates his last resting place in the Reformed Presbyterian churchyard he was born on the 1st January 1813 and died on 27th February 1883. For […]
MR JOHN HEMPHILL GETTY
Mr John Hemphill Getty The first of February 1886, was a cold wintry day, and the boys of the school were amusing themselves in the usual way, for it was not yet ten o’clock and the snow lay thick on the ground. Snowballs were flying thick and fast, mostly missing their mark but one, possibly […]
MR JOHN KENNEDY
JOHN KENNEDY 31st August 1928-13th October 2019 John Kennedy was born on the 31st August 1928 in the townland of Craigs, just outside the village of Cullybackey into a musical family. He was encouraged from a young age to listen to and was taught songs from many traditions from both his mother and his grand-mother. […]
MR JOHN MONTGOMERY BROWNE
MR JOHN MONTGOMERY BROWNE 24th November 1828-29th March 1913 Mr John Browne only stayed for a short time in Cullybackey. He was a man of the noblest character, of superior education and considerable literary ability. John Montgomery Browne was born on 24th November 1828, the son of Robert Brown of Clatteringford, near Comber, County […]
MR JOHN PATRICK J.P.
MR JOHN PATRICK J.P. DUNMINNING A leader has fallen, a trusted man, a man of the people, a wise counsellor, and a strength to his party. These are the opening words of the obituary in the “Ballymena Observer” of 6th July 1894 describing the late Mr John Patrick after news broke of his sudden death. […]
MR JOHN SMYTH
MR JOHN SMYTH Mr John Smyth, was a native of Galgorm and had been a pupil teacher in Ballymena under Mr Given. From 1876 until the autumn of 1878 when he was appointed as assistant master in Kilkenny Model School he was assistant to Mr Logan in Cullybackey. He remained in Kilkenny until the […]
MR MALCOLM WILLIAM PATRICK, M.P 1882-1946
MR MALCOLM WILLIAM PATRICK, M.P. 15th 1882-17th September 1946 Malcolm William Patrick was born on the 15th August 1882 at “Gledheather,” Dunminning, youngest son of John Patrick, D.L., “Gledheather” and Augusta Mary Patrick, (Nee Davison). He married Elizabeth Frankland Haughton, only daughter of Mr T.W. Haughton, in the Craigs Parish Church, Cullybackey, on the 15th […]
MR PATRICK GIVEN
PATRICK GIVEN 13th April 1837-15th August 1864 Patrick Given was born at Dunnygarron, Cullybackey on the 13th April 1837. He received the rudiments of his education at the village school and was generally at the top of his class. In the winter of 1856 and 1857 a series of public lectures on chemistry and physics […]
MR R SPENCE
MR R SPENCE Mr R. Spence, the Cullybackey wheelman won prizes at distances from half-a-mile to one hundred miles. He rode three one hundred mile races all inside six hours, the times being in 1920 5hrs 30mins 8seconds; 1924 5hrs 42mins 38secs; 1925 34mins 55secs. He held the one hundred mile Ulster record from 1920 […]
MR RAYMOND COCHRANE
MR RAYMOND COCHRANE 1937-2018 Although a textile designer by trade, art was Raymond Cochrane’s main interest throughout his early years, inspired by Mr R.L. Russell, headmaster of Tullygrawley School which he attended, progressing from drawing and wood engraving to landscapes. Mostly self-taught, with just some tuition from other professional artists Raymond decided to become a […]
MR ROBERT NICHOLL
MR ROBERT NICHOLL 1832-1917 Robert Nicholl was born at Cullybackey in 1832 and was for a long time closely identified with the public life of the village. In his early years he was an oatmeal miller in the old mill which stood just opposite the Miller’s Row, on the site which was for many years […]
MR SAMUEL FEE GIVEN
SAMUEL FEE GIVEN 10th March 1845-18th May 1867 Samuel Fee Given was born at Markstown, Cullybackey, on the 10th March 1845. He received his early education at the local National School and at Coleraine Model School. At the Model School he was trained as a pupil teacher and in 1862 he was appointed to be […]
MR SAMUEL LYLE ORR
Mr Samuel Lyle Orr 13th March 1847 – 13th January 1930 Mr Samuel Lyle Orr, who had previously taught in Tullybane, near Cloughmills, came to Cullybackeyin 1879 but left in 1880. Born on 13th March 1847, his early life was spent in the ordinary occupation of a farmer’s son, but apparently he had no ambition […]
MR STEWART JOHN ROBINSON
MR STEWART JOHN ROBINSON DROMONA Son of the Mr Hugh Robinson, Killylodge, County Antrim and grandson of Mr Hugh Robinson, also of Killylodge, who was a very prominent figure in the district during the 1798 rebellion, when he commanded the Yeomanry and was also High Seneschal of the court. Mr Stewart John Robinson died suddenly […]
MR THOMAS GIVEN J. P.
MR THOMAS GIVEN J. P. POET AND FARMER 1850-1917 Born in 1850,Thomas Given, who was descended from an ancient Scottish family was a well-known and popular figure in Cullybackey and the surrounding district. In his early life he spent some time in America. On returning he applied himself to the pursuit of scientific farming, possessing […]
MR THOMAS WILFRED HAUGHTON
MR THOMAS WILFRED HAUGHTON 1855-1936 Mr T. W. Haughton was one of the best known men in the Ulster linen trade. His very successful business career began about 1876 when in partnership with Mr J. W. Frazer, he established a linen merchanting business in Belfast. This developed rapidly and in 1881 the partners added bleaching […]
MR WILLIAM CARSON
MR WILLIAM CARSON DREEN HOUSE William Carson was an extensive farmer who worked on the latest scientific methods and was looked on as one of the leading agriculturists in Mid-Antrim. His large holding at Dreen was a tribute to his abilities as a practical farmer and hard work. He was a member of the Executive […]
MR WILLIAM CRAIG CULLYBACKEY NATIONAL SCHOOL
MR WILLIAM CRAIG 20th August 1827-10th February 1897 Mr William Craig taught in the National School, Cullybackey, from 1853 until 1868 before he and his wife, who was the principle of the Cullybackey Female School from 1853 left for America where Mr Craig was taking up a post as an Inspector of Schools. Mr […]
MR WILLIAM JAMES KNOWLES
MR WILLIAM JAMES KNOWLES 29th January 1832-5th July 1927 William James Knowles was born at Fenagh near Cullybackey on 29th January 1832. As a young man he was interested in botany, geology and archaeology and his writings on these subjects are numerous. Educated privately and after becoming qualified to teach these subjects under the Science […]
MR WILLIAM SHAW
MR WILLIAM SHAW 1878-1951 Author of the book “Cullybackey”, The Story of an Ulster Village, published in 1913, William Shaw was a native of Cullybackey who obviously loved the village and surrounding area. A lifelong member of the Cullybackey Reformed Presbyterian Church he wrote a history of this congregation. William also earned acclaim in the […]
MR WILLIAM YOUNG J.P. 1828-1913
Mr William Young, J.P. 1828-1913 Fenaghy Mr William Young came from a well-known and honoured Mid-Ulster family, who had been identified for generations with what was known as the staple industry of the province. He was the owner of the Maine Bleaching and Dyeing Works at Cullybackey and Fenaghy, a director of the Braidwater Spinning […]
MRS JANE (JEANNIE) REA, B.E.M.
MRS JANE (JEANNIE) REA, B.E.M. 10th November 1882-17th September 1969 Born Jane Murdock on the 10th November 1882, at “The Row”, Hillmount, Craigs, Cullybackey, the third child of a family of nine to Mr Alexander Murdock a carpenter, she came to be known as Jeannie to many. She attended the Old School, Cullybackey, then situated […]
MRS RUTH MCILVEEN, MB, BCH, BA., J.P.
MRS RUTH MCILVEEN MB, BCH, BAO, JP 1897-1955 Originally from Londonderry and a graduate in medicine from Queen’s University, Belfast, she was the first woman to be appointed as a house surgeon in the Londonderry City and County Infirmary in 1922. Later she had experience in the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. […]
MY INAMORATA
MY INAMORATA Friends, at this time I fain would rhyme About a girl I’ve seen, Above the rest, e’en at their best She reigns unchosen Queen. For beauty rare, none would compare In all the human race, Or virtue too how very few Seem to possess such grace. Her eyes so true, like azure blue, […]
MY INAMORATE
MY INAMORATE By Hel’cons brink some pose tae clink, An’ write verse by the mile; Some ir rosy, some ir prosy, Bit mark that doon as style. Weel, at this time I fain wud rhyme Aboot a girl I’ve seen, Wha ’bin the rest, e’en at their best Still reigns acknowledged Queen. Fur beauty rare, […]