Back in 1740, a census was conducted in Ireland of Protestant Householders. This list of data was compiled by the collectors of the Hearth Tax. Unfortunately the original records were destroyed in the infamous 1922 fire in Dublin. However transcripts do still survive for several counties in Ulster - namely Counties Antrim, Armagh, Donegal, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone. My … [Read more...] about 1740 Protestant Householders Returns in County Londonderry
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List of Oldest County Antrim People
I recently spotted, in an old newspaper, the death notice of a very old lady in Cullybackey. Martha Hanna was a stunning 126 years old when she died in March 1808.1808 Cullybackey - 126 Year Old Martha Hanna DiesSaunders's News-Letter - 19th March 1808 But, holy smoke, it turns out that she wasn't alone. A neighbour in nearby Ahoghill, Martha Dunn, was also 126, when … [Read more...] about List of Oldest County Antrim People
1875 Poem – To the River Bann
Recently, while researching a different topic linked to the River Bann, I happened upon two old poems written in the late 1800s about this beautiful stretch of water. This late 1875 poem called "To the River Bann" appeared in one of the north coast newspapers at the time. It apparently was originally published in a Belfast newspaper. Unfortunately, the author preferred … [Read more...] about 1875 Poem – To the River Bann
Old photo of Swatragh village, Mercers, McFadden Funeral
Swatragh was a few miles from our small farm. It is a small village with just over 500 residents. My father would go there only occasionally - and more often than not, to visit the Northern Counties Co-Operative Enterprises Ltd (or the CO-OP as it was known). This wonderful local initiative had been set up in the early 1960s. By late 1963, it had over one thousand members - … [Read more...] about Old photo of Swatragh village, Mercers, McFadden Funeral
1902, Early Motor Car Trip in the North of Ireland
On doing a search for the first motor car to be seen in or near Portglenone, I came across this delightful old letter from September 1902.Mrs E. C. Herdman, writing from the Red House, in Strabane, on Thursday 11th September 1902, recounts a trip that she and her husband had taken on their little motor quadricyle. Ok, it's not exactly a car, but it is a 4-wheel motor … [Read more...] about 1902, Early Motor Car Trip in the North of Ireland
