REV SAMUEL MCILVEEN, B.A.
REVEREND SAMUEL MCILVEEN, B.A. 20th June 1901-23rd December 1970 Samuel McIlveen was brought up in First Portadown congregation and as a boy he had thought of service in the mission field. He was educated at Armagh Royal School, then Queen’s University where he obtained an Honours degree after which he studied at Assembly’s College, Belfast, […]
REV WILLIAM CORKEY, B.A., M.A.
REV WILLIAM CORKEY 15th June 1877 – 20th February 1964 William Corkey was born in the manse at Glendermott, Londonderry on 15th June 1877, sixth son of Rev Joseph Corkey. After passing the Matriculation examination of the Royal University of Ireland in June 1895 he entered Magee College graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy at […]
REV WILLIAM HOLMES HUTCHINSON B.A., M.C., HON, C.F.
REV WILLIAM HOLMES HUTCHINSON B.A., M.C., HON, C.F. 21st January 1878 – 24th August 1953 William Holmes Hutchinson was born on the 21st January 1878, the middle child of James Hutchinson, Esq., of Rathmines, Dublin and Henrietta Hutchinson, nee Holmes. He received his early education in Dublin before the family came to Belfast. William studied […]
REV. ALEXANDER THOMAS KIRKPATRICK, M.A. 1830-1909
REV. ALEXANDER THOMAS KIRKPATRICK, M.A. 5th Janaury 1830-19th April 1909 Born in Dublin on the 5th January 1830, Alexander Thomas Kirkpatrick was a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. Mr Kirkpatrick was ordained in 1853 as Curate of Craigs Parish Church, Cullybackey, of which his father, the Reverend George Kirkpatrick, was then rector. In 1868 he […]
REV. DR. BUICK
This poem was written for the occasion of the unveiling of a tablet to the Rev. Dr. Buick in Cuningham Memorial and coincided with the installation of electric light in the building. The time was April 1901 and the author of the poem was a member of the congregation. Toll, toll the bell, let there […]
REV. GEORGE KIRKPATRICK, B.A. 1798-1889
REV. GEORGE KIRKPATRICK, B.A. 1798-1889 Up until the time of his death the Rev. Kirkpatrick was the oldest clergyman of the Church of Ireland in Ulster, having reached the ripe old age of ninety-one, and although in advanced years, up to a few weeks prior to his death he enjoyed excellent health, preaching on the […]
REV. JOHN ERNEST GEORGE, B.A., M.A. 1911-1963
REV. JOHN ERNEST GEORGE, B.A., M.A. 24th April 1911-14th May 1963 John Ernest George was born on the 24thApril 1911 at Milfort, Armagh, son of Ernest Samuel George, Barrack Street, Armagh. He attended the Armagh Royal School and was employed on the staff of a Birmingham newspaper. Deciding to resume his studies he went to […]
REV. W. J. MCMULLAN, B.A.
IN MEMORIAM REV. W. J. MCMULLAN, B.A. The cruel hand of icy death Is laid upon thy brow; The bitter pangs of silent grief Can never reach thee now. And yet we do lament for thee, Whom we shall see no more; For thou wert honoured and revered In thine own loved Dromore. But grief […]
RHYMES FOR THE NEW YEAR
RHYMES FOR THE NEW YEAR The old year is dying in the dead of night, And the hoarse winds hastening by Are singing his dirge with a wild delight In the ear of the frozen sky: Long had he tarried, and many had wept At the sorrows locked up in his store, The griefs that […]
RIGHT OR MIGHT – WHICH?
RIGHT OR MIGHT – WHICH? Ye warriors grim, who rend the air With screaming bomb and deadly shell; Who spread destruction, and prepare To turn the earth into a hell: Before your hordes the weak are hurled, Their homes and hopes alike destroyed; So once again you’ve shown the world That you of mercy are […]
ROBINSON, BERTIE AUTUMN
AUTUMN I love to see that strip of gold On mellow-orchard tree, On bending bough, and fading leaf That flutters to the lea. I love to see those sailing clouds, That float at peaceful ease, That skim and swim a sea of blue, A sky of silent peace. I love to hear the tinkling brook […]
ROBINSON, BERTIE COMING OF WINTER
COMING OF WINTER O’er the hilltops dark and dreary, O’er the snow-capped, distant mountains, Wrapped and covered in his furskins, In his white and frozen furskins, Comes old winter roaring loudly; On before him comes the wild-goose, With his cry of desolation Ringing through the misty heavens. Bertie Robinson Age 12 Tullygrawley School
ROBINSON, BERTIE SNOW
SNOW Now the snow is here at last, Falling steady, thick and fast, On the housetops, on the ground, On the hedges bare and brown. See it dancing like a fairy, In the air so light and merry; O’er the ground its cloak expands, O’er the black and barren lands. On the […]
ROBINSON, BERTIE SPRING
SPRING Oh, what a happy time is Spring, When flowers sprout and birdies sing, And creeping goes the dewy grass, And daisies bloom where’er you pass. Oh, what a happy time is Spring, When children shout and laugh and sing, And buds of thorn upturn their cheek; The glowing sun they gladly seek. […]
ROBINSON, BERTIE SPRING (2)
SPRING The grass is green, and soon the stubbled lea A black and matted meadow will appear; The sprouting hedges that were black and sere Are growing choirs for the birds of glee. The buds are shooting from the elm-tree; The sword-leaved snowdrop by the window near, His head he lifts to tell of how […]
ROBINSON, BERTIE WHEN WINTER COMES
WHEN WINTER COMES When Winter comes the moon is dimly lit, The stars creep forth into the sky, And round the fire the people sit, And hear the wind roar by. When Winter comes the trees are black and bare, The rolling mist blots out the hills, The rain comes pouring through the air, And […]
ROBINSON, BERTIE WINTER
WINTER The trees are bare and soon the winter’s gust Will roar and sweep the widening plain, and bend The antlered beech, his massive body shake, And twirl his last brown leaf, a golden curl. The frost will come and with his frozen feet Will tread upon the pond and make the stream An iron […]
ROCK EDITH CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS Ding dong, the bells are pealing o’er the snow, To greet the children round the warm hearth-side, As they watch the pudding steam rise up and flow, To bead the roof and towards the fire glide. Ding dong, the stockings hang on the chimney peg, And in the land of dreams smile happy dears; […]
ROCK, EDITH NOW THE YOUTHFUL HIAWATHA
Now the youthful Hiawatha Had become so great a hunter But the wary roebuck started, Jumped and leaped across the thicket, Missed the arrow by a hairsbreadth, Flew along to tell of danger. But the little Hiawatha Mourned in secret for the red deer; Sweat of disappointment dropping, Sadly went to tell Nokomis. Edith […]
RUSSELL, BILLY AUTUMN SIGNS
AUTUMN SIGNS Soon brown I know will be the nut, The rustling corn will soon be cut. From cold Russia snow will glide, The plants and all the flowers to hide. Soon the trees their leaves will shed To make a bluebell’s Winter bed. Soon the flies will disappear; Soon Redbreast will come very […]
RUSSELL, BILLY THE RAIN
THE RAIN The flowers and trees and herbs will call, The welcome rain will surely fall Into every leafy glade, Making trees and hedges fade. Then the roads will moistened be. Everywhere we ploughmen see, Beaded hedges, drooping flowers, Dripping in the ceaseles showers. The field the ploughman bending plod, Turning up the moistened sod, […]
RUSSELL, MARY DUSK
DUSK The fire is low, The lamps is lit, The night creeps on, And then we sit Around the fire, And talk away to our desire. The door doth sing a whiny tune, Drowning the murmurs in the gloom. It now gets darker than before, And all is quiet but the door. Mary Russell Age […]
SANDY BALLYMENA MAYOR
SANDY BALLYMENA MAYOR We’ve got Sandy as our mayor From Ballywatermoy He’s been in Ballymena Council since he was just a boy He never really changes; he has a word for all You could meet him in the Fair Hill, or at the City Hall He’ll go to any function no matter where it be […]
SCHOOL IMAGES
BALLYBEG PRIMARY SCHOOL BALLYBEG SCHOOL 1950 Back Row – Annie Marks, Susan Greer, Jean Carleton, George Kerr, Jim Wylie, John Kennedy, William J Murphy, Robert Greer, Jean McKinney, Betty Wylie. 2nd row – MASTER LOGAN, Susan Murphy, Annie McKinney, Margaret McFall, Julia McMillen,Pearl Wylie, Eileen Greer, Ruth McCroary, Hannah Murphy, Martha Murphy, Martha […]
SCHOOL REGISTERS
BALLYBEG NATIONAL SCHOOL BOYS 1924-1969 BALLYBEG SCHOOL GIRLS 1938-1969 BUICK_MEMORIAL_BOYS_1937-1968 BUICK_MEMORIAL_P_S _1949 -1968_GIRLS CARCLINTY-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-BOYS-1867-1969 CARCLINTY-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-GIRLS 1867-1968 EARLY CRAIGS CRAIGS NATIONAL SCHOOL GIRLS 1864 -1869 CRAIGS NATIONAL SCHOOL BOYS 1864 – 1868 CRAIGS-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-BOYS-1867-1950 CRAIGS-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-GIRLS-1868-1927 CRAIGS-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-GIRLS-1928-1950 CRAIGS PRIMARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ON LEAVING CRAIGS-PAROCHIAL-SCHOOL-GIRLS-1872-1936 CRAIGS-PAROCHIAL-SCHOOL-BOYS-1872-1932 CULLYBACKEY-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-BOYS-1886-1940 CULLYBACKEY-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-GIRLS-1877-1949 DIAMOND_PRIMARY_SCHOOL_BOYS 1942-1969 DIAMOND-PRIMARY-SCHOOL-GIRLS-1943-1969 DROMORE_BOYS_1870-1959 DROMORE-GIRLS-1867-1960 DUNMINNING-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-BOYS-1871-1952 DUNMINNING-NATIONAL-SCHOOL-GIRLS-1870-1951 LOAN-NIGHT-SCHOOL […]
SEND OFF TO ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE CULLYBACKEY MEN
SEND OFF TO ULSTER VOLUNTEER FORCE CULLYBACKEY MEN LINES Addressed to the noble sons of patriotism, loyal comrades of the 1st Battalion North Antrim Regiment Ulster Volunteer Force, who so very willingly sacrificed, perhaps all, and joined Lord Kitcherner’s Army on Saturday 26th September, 1914, in the Protestant Hall, Ballymena. Dear comrades, who have responded, […]
SILENT THOUGHTS
SILENT THOUGHTS There are no words that can express The hurt the pain the emptiness The terrible carnage left behind By the bombers with murder on their mind While people filled the busy street Not knowing what they were about to meet In just one twinkling of an eye Twenty-eight were blown to eternity The […]
SLEMISH
SLEMISH (A REVISED VERSION) Hail! Slemish! Grand and lofty mountain, The source of many a lake and fountain, Where Patrick watched his hogs and sheep, And from thy summit often leaped; Yes! Leaped instead of walking down, Right into Ballymena town. In these old days that long have fled, Thy heights were all a flower-bed, […]
SPARKS FRAE THE RURAL COUNCIL
SPARKS FRAE THE RURAL COUNCIL Cock up your lugs ye uncouth clatchin’, An’ listen weel in shuch or kitchen, Nae mair at straes ye need be catchin’ Placed in a raw. Wha noo wull backward dunt the britchen, The Boords’s awa! Tae it we may in safety trace The ills that clog the workin’ race, […]
SPENCE, JACK AUTUMN
AUTUMN Thick and fast the leaves are falling, Making pathways look like treasure, Yet the robin loud is calling, Not for mercy but for pleasure. Now the beech-tree is not rich For the wind has stole her money, And has strewn it on the ditch, Where now no more the bees make honey. Jack […]
SPENCE, JOHNNIE THE RAIN
THE RAIN See the rain come pouring down, And down the window streaming, It looks as if the plants will drown For their trembling leaves are gleaming. See the brook come rushing past And o’er its banks go flowing; The drunken clouds are rolling fast And the sun is no more showing. Johnnie Spence Tullygrawley […]
SPENCE, JOHNNIE THE WIND
THE WIND Over the muddy, water-filled fields, The howling, rushing wind doth blow, And round our house he totters and reels, But we never heed while the fire doth glow. Then somebody carelessly opens the door, And in he comes with a tearing sweep, To blow all the pictures down on the floor, And waken […]
SPRINGTIME
SPRINGTIME Hushed are the storms of winter, Its icy breath withdraw; New birds and flowers and sunshine Bespeak a fairer dawn; Grey skies and mists now vanished Reveal a fair view; And distant hills once snow clad, Assume their summer hue. The little lambs in innocence Around their mothers sport; And the bees are seeking […]
STIRLING, E SPRING
SPRING A youthful lad is Spring, He is happy, content, and gay, He makes the birdies sing, He wakes the flowers under the clay. He buds the trees and hedges, He makes the fields put on new dresses, The reeds and the sedges Are like grass in the cresses. At night when all’s asleep […]
STIRLING, NED NOW HAS COME THE CHEERFUL SPRING
Now has come the cheerful spring. Sheep no more in fields will stagger; The wren upon a twig doth sing, And the robin’s not a beggar. Crows are nesting Horses are resting And all the world once more is gay; The trees are green, Bees can be seen, All in the merry month of May. […]
STIRLING, TOM WINTER
WINTER The snow has come in a Winter sheet, And sheep no more on the mountains bleat, And tracks of hares in snow are seen, Through the fields and hedges they have been. Tom Stirling Age 12 Tullygrawley School
STIRLING, WILLIE THE SUMMER
THE SUMMER The leafy trees are merry With thrush and blackbird gay; Their voices loud and cheery Make glad my home to-day. The old sow in the meadow With sunburnt back doth lie, With such a little shadow That you could hardly spy. Willie Stirling Tullygrawley
STRANGE, SAMMIE A WINTER EVENING
A WINTER EVENING On clouded bogs lies thick the dew; The snipe doth call but geese are few; Clear crystals drop from lifeless trees; Some keep indoors on nights like these. The farmer as he comes from town Is clad in a silver misty gown; He’s been in his cart from dawn till dark, And […]
STRANGE, SAMMIE COMING WINTER
COMING WINTER Now harvest time is coming fast And corn will soon be ripe, And Autumn’s mastiff whirling blast Will son in keyholes pipe. And dewy grass and lifeless trees Will bow their heads with cold; And pump lids to their frame will freeze, And Winter birds get bold. Sammie Strange Age 13 Tullygrawley School
STRANGE, SAMMIE PLODDING ONWARD
PLODDING ONWARD The weary horses in harnessed plough Towards the ground their heads they bow. They plod the track And the reins hang slack. O, weary ploughman, Onward plodding. Sammie Strange Tullygrawley School
STRANGE, SAMMIE THE FLAG PROCESSION
THE FLAG PROCESSION The tree stands in the meadow bare And waves his Summer wand, And o’er the meadow comes along A marching coloured band. The Orange flag sways here and there Across that crowded spot; The west wind loads his hissing gun And welcomes with a shot. Sammie Strange Tullygrawley School
STRANGE, SAMMY THE HEDGES ALL ARE BUDDED
The hedges all are budded, And crows their nests do build, And burns no more are flooded, And gardens now are filled With daffodils so yellow, An crocusus so blue; The bumble-bee, brave fellow, Shows off his colour too. Sammy Strange Tullygrawley School
SUMMER TIME
HOME-MADE POETRY SUMMER TIME It’s drawing near the time again O’ changing into summer; They say we’re all to turn our clocks An hour roon in numer. There’s yin auld man – I ken him weel Who hesney this intention; He’s never yet his wheels o’ time Turned roon, wi this invention. He says he […]
SWEET NEW YEAR
SWEET NEW YEAR Sweet New Year, on wings of angels, Listen to that Gospel cry; Earth and nations fear and tremble, Hell and devil fear and fly. See their earthen crowns before Him! Him who rules supreme on high; See the lake of fire burning, Did Our Father tell a lie? No, the truth can […]
TAE EDDIE BY EVA GREEN
TAE EDDIE Yet yince again, dear Eddie, Some lines I pen by haun’, Though naething o’ a poet, I’ll dae the best I can Tae try an’ answer yer bra note In words baith true and plain Min’ am no a fit competitor For Eddie o’ the Maine At one day. I see ye want […]
TAE EVA GREEN
TAE EVA GREEN I thocht perhaps, dear editor, Yer correspondent guid Wud hardly hae deem’d it worth while Tae answer my bit screed; The melody she plays is sweet, Save fur a note or twa, Which I forgie as true an’ free As I extend my pa’ Tae Eva G-reen Noo, Eva, as yince mair […]
TERRA FIRMA
TERRA FIRMA Lines suggested on hearing the Rev. T. Whiteside preach in the Baptist Church, Hill Street, Ballymena on “John vi., 15 to 20” Wae pleasure an’ wae profit tae At six last Sunday nicht, I pied a visit tae this church Whar shines the Gospel licht. In passin’ let me here just say […]
THE “GO-OUTERS’” MARCH
THE “GO-OUTERS’” MARCH It needs no simple words of mine, Dear friends as you all know, To prove that this work is of God, As His own Word says so. Go out into the cities first, Just like this Gospel tour; Through the big streets where live the rich, And lanes where dwell the poor. […]
THE AULD SCHOOL AT THE PUN
THE AULD SCHOOL AT THE PUN The wheels o’ progress birlin’ roon Bring changes every day, The rural haunts as weel as toon Nou grammal at display. The scenes oor fathers used tae please Are nou but second rated, The waens wha croon their A B C’s Maun hae them illustrated An’ clear this day. […]
THE BATTLE OF CULLYBACKEY MAINE WANDERERS V DRUMRANKIN STROLLERS BY JOHN MACNEILL
THE BATTLE OF CULLYBACKEY Maine Wanderers v Drumrankin Strollers. Sporting memories live long in rural Ulster, and the following racy lines by Mr. John MacNeill, Ballycarry’s railwayman poet, will carry Cullybackey folk back to days before the first world war, when rival soccer teams, such as Maine Wanderers, the works club of Messrs. Frazer & […]