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Donaghadee, Wharf 1897

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Memories of Donaghadee, Wharf

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  Year: 1985 Silverhill Road
A memory of Huntworth, Somerset

When I graduated from Paisley University, Scotland, in 1984, I moved to Castlederg for a period of about 8 months. It was a very special time in my life. I met so many really nice people, and the memories will live with me for the rest of my life.

One memory, which might make people laugh, was of one night when I had been visiting some friends in Glenpark, near the centre of the town. It was late in the evening and we had been watching the film "An American Werewolf in London" . When the film had finished at 11.30pm, I had to make my way through the town, over the bridge and then walk about a mile out of town before reaching Silverhill Road. I then had to walk a further half mile up Silverhill Road, in darkness, to reach the house where I lived, which was owned by a lovely lady called Mrs Glen. The only problem was that the road was in complete darkness, as it was off the main road. No lights.

I was about half way up Silverhill Road when I heard some animal running down the hill towards me. (Thinking "WEREWOLF"!!!) And as it was pitch black, I thought I was about to be the first casualty of a werewolf killing in Northern Ireland. It was closing in on me at a rapid rate, but I still couldn't see what it was, and then, there it was.... a sheep. Sounds silly, but your imagination runs away with you. I thought I was a goner. Of course I never told anyone until now.

I loved Castlederg then, and I still do. I owe the town and the people living there a great deal, for the very happy memories that I have and shall treasure forever.
God bless.

Last edited: 17/11/2008 08:50 by Robert Kyle  

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  Year: 1920s Stories from the past
A memory of Huntworth, Somerset

My maternal grandfather - Hugh Duddy - was born in a farming community in the county. My mother would tell me stories of visiting relatives in two farms, Mulderg and Coulnaculp (spelling is probably very wrong). Her memories were full of colourful characters and wonderful summer days. At that time she would sail from "The Broomielaw" in Glasgow to Londonderry where she was met by a horse-drawn cart or she'd catch a bus to Claudy and wait at the post office to be met. A distant cousin was post mistress at that time.
My grandfather came to Glasgow around the turn of the century where he met and married a young woman from Montrose. They had six children, of whom my mother was the oldest, born in 1904. He used money from his parents to buy a licenced premises in Glasgow which he owned until the beginning of the Second World War.
He would give my mother bottles of Scotch whisky to give to uncles which she found very embarassing if she was stopped and searched at check-points.
I'd love to hear from anyone with information about the Duddys or the farms.
My ambition is to visit Claudy myself.

Last edited: 05/11/2008 11:03 by Linda Rankine  

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  Year: 1950 Growing up in Ballycarry
A memory of Huntworth, Somerset

I have many valued memories of growing up in Ballycarry during the late forties and fifties. I lived at No. 1 Rookwood Terrace (now, I believe, No. 2 Hillhead Road), with my grandad, John MacAuley senior, my mum May Wadley and younger brother Johnny Wadley. Times were much slower then, hardly any cars in the street, allowing us children to play there, in relative safety.
When our front door at No. 1 was locked we just put our hand inside the letter box to get the key which was hanging on a piece of string inside.  I suspect all the houses were like that.
People were always in and out of each others' houses to have a chat and a “wee drop of tay” which came with a small plate piled up with breads and cakes, and who would want their dinner after that kind of feed!
We didn’t have electricity for a while and had oil lamps for light.  It was my job to keep them full of oil and clean the globes and wicks.  It somehow wasn’t the same when the electricity was put on.
I don’t recall having running water (memory getting vague here), when I was younger.  I remember going up Main St to collect water in buckets.  At the bottom of West St near the top of Kennedys Parade was a water pump.  However, if we really wanted the best water we went up to a continuously running tap between the butchers and Kennedys’ house. I was really pleased when the water was finally put on, again I don’t remember when.
When it was approaching dinner time I would be sent up to the dairy to buy some fresh buttermilk to drink with our meal. I didn’t like it but the rest of the family loved it.
The boys and girls sometimes played together, after school and even in the winter evenings I remember playing:
rounders and skipping in the street (mostly girls),
marbles with the boys; I don’t think they cheated!
Down the planton and being given a turn on a swing that one of the bigger boys had hoisted between a couple of trees.  It was the biggest swing I had ever been on.  What fun.
A group of us going down to the old castle and lighting a fire to bake our spuds, eating them blackened skins and all.
In the dark up West St, tying thread to the door knocker and taking it with us to the other side of the road. Once safely hidden in the ditch pulling the thread to knock on the doors. People coming to the doors to see who was there.  It worked really well!  I don’t ever remember getting caught.
Coming down West St on the sleigh when snow had fallen.  Of course someone had to be at the corners to shout 'All clear, no cars coming!'.  Sleighs were shared (Billy Kennedy always let me have a loan of his), and sometimes two of us went down together on the one sleigh. It was quite an art to turn either right or left at the bottom into Main St (innocently unaware of any hidden dangers).
I remember going to the old school behind the Old Presbeterian church for a short while.  When the new school was opened all children had to walk to it carrying something with them, probably helping to save some removalists' costs. I had to carry a chair.  
For a time there was a cinema almost opposite the old school.  Occasionally the film being shown would break down and we in the cinema would yell and stamp our feet until it started again.
There used to be “wee meetings” which would be held behind Mr. Lamont's grocery shop, up some stairs into what seemed like a loft.  There we would sing Christian choruses and learn to do the actions to the words, including stamping our feet on the floor. I have no idea who ran the meetings, only that it was good fun.
Sunday was for going to church.  I used to go to the Church of Ireland.  If the bell started ringing before I left I would have to hurry up to get there in time.  However, if we managed to leave home before the bell we would call in at the corner shop to buy our sweeties to suck on during the sermon at  church.  Nessie or Maureen (maiden names King - married names Nessie McHugh and Maureen McCready) would sell us them.  It was hard to choose from the many big glass jars gleaming with all sorts of delicious treats. Thruppence would buy us lots of sweeties and sixpence, well sixpence was a fortune.  One day my grandad sent me up to Nessie to buy some elbow grease and I dutifully went to purchase it.  Nessie had a great laugh and she said “You tell that Uncle John to behave himself.”  She was his niece, her mother Jeannie being Grandad’s sister.
In those days the housewives would sometimes need “wee messages”  (buy something from the shop) and would ask one of us children to go to get them.  We were always obliging for we knew there was a thruppence or sixpence for ourselves and we would immediately rush up to Kings to buy our sweeties.
In 1960 when four of us girls passed our exams to go to Larne Tech (Deborah Robinson (now Brown), Barbara Thompson (now Robinson), Lesley McCausland deceased, and myself, Frances Wadley.  We girls had to walk down the hill to Ballycarry Station to catch the train for Larne, and at the end of our school day walk back home up the hill, rain or shine.
Going on a holiday, and never intending to leave Ballycarry, I met my husband to be, so never went back to live, but my childhood spent in Ballycarry has given me many many happy memories.


Last edited: 22/10/2008 09:20 by Frances Wadley  

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  Year: 1955 Living at Waringsfield Miltary Hospital
A memory of Huntworth, Somerset

I lived in Moira, Roughley about 1955. I was born in Moira in 1950. It was when the hospital was open, my dad was in the medical corp. I always remember Lady Mountbatten coming to the hospital, my younger sister was selected to present her with flowers. They were good days, I often go through Moira when I visit Ireland. I went to Moira school. I remember when they had Liptons, mum used to shop there. They were great days. I would love to have some old photos of the old hospital.

Last edited: 15/08/2008 14:32 by Deirdre Lillywhite  

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Carrickfergus, Castle 1897 (ref: 40277)
Year: 1950 ULSTER
A memory of Carrickfergus, County Antrim

My childhood memories go to Ballyclare, Blackhead, Carrickfergus and last but not least, dear Whitehead. My late mother came from Whitehead, and as children, my sister and I often had wonderful holidays with relations, exploring the town and surroundings, especially walking to Blackhead up and around back to Whitehead..one time, many years later, my cousin who lived in Whitehead, said, will you take her for a walk, walk her off her feet.. no such luck boy, I walked you off your feet!!  My Nana's sister had a house on the Esplanade, then later moved into town, near the picture theatre... McCaffterty... last time I was in Antrim, stayed at Islandmagee, this was for a weekend in 1996 from memory... would dearly love a return visit.... happy memories, even to the sea water swimming pool on the Esplanade at Whitehead...shall leave more memories to my sister...

Last edited: 11/08/2008 14:41 by Adele Pentony-Graham  

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