Ballymoney U3A Website
  • Welcome
    • Welcome from our Chairman
    • Welcome to Ballymoney U3A
    • What is U3A?
  • Activities
    • Current Activities
    • Full list of Activities & Reports
  • Monthly Meetings
  • Contact Us
  • Our History
    • Ballymoney U3A History
    • Ballymoney Town
  • Documents and Forms
    • Membership Forms
    • Policy Documents
  • Latest News
    • NEWS Updates
    • Newsletters
  • Administration
    • Administration Forms
    • Committee Meetings
ACTIVITY DETAILS AND FURTHER INFORMATION

Activity FAMILY & LOCAL HISTORY GROUP
Leader Vacant
Admin Gladys Mallon
Contact E-mail ag4dvc@hotmail.co.uk
Contact Phone 028 2766 4036
Meeting Day 3rd Tuesday of month
Meeting Time 11 a.m.
Venue Holmes Memorial Hall
Activity Description Exploring way to expand our knowledge in researching local and family history both through books, web-site and visits to places of interest.
Current Arrangements VIA ZOOM

23rd February 2021

The Family History Group met on Tuesday 23rd February on Zoom.

We started off with a short demonstration, inputting information onto Family Tree Maker which is a Family Tree building program.

Subsequent discussions were on townlands and where to find information on the Internet. It was interesting to note that there can be townlands with the same name in different areas. Confusing to say the least but we are thankful that we have Kathleen who directs us and shares information with us to enable better searches.

One member had discovered a very interesting webpage which has some very interesting and valuable information on graveyards in and around  Portglenone, Kilrea, Maghera,  Bellaghy, Innisrush and Tamlaght areas in Counties Derry/Londonderry and Antrim. This same website gives us a list of the oldest recorded people in certain areas a small selection of these can be found below.

Once again a really interesting meeting, sometimes going for little walks down memory lane, and if there are any members who wish to join us you would be made most welcome.

You can contact us at groupsbu3a@gmail.com… quoting Family History Group in the subject line. 

Gladys Mallon and Irene Ross
Picture
From Website mentioned above…. Some people living to a very old age!

16 February 2021

The History Group met via zoom on Tuesday 16th February. We welcomed a new member Ann. Ann is looking for any information on her family history. Kathleen was able to give her information on which web sites to access to get her started.

Other members of the group gave her some pointers and tips on how to look for and access the information .

The group then discussed the role of the Workhouses in Northern Ireland. Kathleen recommended a book Pauper to Patient which is a good source of information as how many of the workhouses developed into hospitals.

Finally the last 15/20 minutes the group were reminiscing about Ballymoney and Davy talked about his time working in Stevenson’s Pork Store.

Next meeting is Tuesday 16th March at 11am via zoom.

19 January 2021

The Family History Group met  on Tuesday, 19 January 2021 at 11 am. 


We watched an very interesting video about Dervock and some of its interesting residents.  The Group agreed that they enjoyed videos about our  local area.

Kathleen informed the group about films that the BCRC are putting on each week and told us how to gain access. 
The discussion then turned to Fairy rings, Fairy trees, Fairy forts and Ring Forts. Kathleen and Davy were able to tell us where these could be found locally. It is amazing how much there is of interest, historically, right here on our doorstep.

Irene shared a lighthearted document she had come across from the Mormon Society about names and occupations found on census records which were both interesting and amusing. e.g ‘A woman named Rose married Robert Garden’ and ‘A women’s birthplace was listed as ‘in a Stagecoach between Nottingham and Derby’!’

Davy shared some extracts and pictures from an old book he has about fitting machine guns onto planes through the wings. 

It is not unusual for our group to deviate from a planned discussion and very often a ‘walk down memory lane’ is of great value too. 

Next meeting Tuesday 16th February 2021 at 11.00am

Anyone wishing to join us please contact us via groupsbu3a@gmail.com with ‘Family History Group’ in the subject line. 

17 November 2020

The Family History Group met on Tuesday, the 17th of November at 11 am via Zoom.

A short video entitled The Story of Your Life was shown emphasising how important it is to record family information, especially information about ourselves. Following the video and subsequent discussion It became apparent that the majority of the members felt that nobody would be interested in anything that we had done which is probably not true.

We then went on to discuss the townlands of Buckna and Slemish and the demise of the linen industry. It was decided that when the pandemic is over we would like to visit one of the places where Linen is/was made, possibly Clarke’s of Upperlands, for one of our away days.

Kathleen spoke about the inaccuracies recorded during the transcription of documents and how some of them are being rewritten. It was decided that there will be a December meeting and although Tuesday, the 15th of December was set this may change and we will notify our members closer to the time.

In the meantime stay safe and if anyone would like to join us please forward you contact details to groupsbu3a@gmail.com quoting ‘Family History’ in the subject line.

Irene Ross

20 October 2020

The Family History Group met on Tuesday 20 October on Zoom and together we watched a short video, ‘Billy Church A History of Billy & Derrykeighan Graveyards’. 


The present Church at Billy was built in 1815 and there are records indicating that there was a Church there in 1305 and some ruins of the old Church are still in existence. The oldest headstone in the graveyard dates back to 1620. 

Robert Quigg VC, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, awarded  for his actions during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War has his grave in Billy Church graveyard.

The members enjoyed this so much they all requested that a link to the video be forwarded to them so that they could watch it a second time. Many thanks to Kathleen for making us aware of this video.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 November at 11:00am when we hope to investigate and discuss ‘Brick walls’! 

New members are welcome and contact can be made by emailing us at groupsbu3a@gmail.com  quoting ‘Family History Group’ in the Subject line.

Irene Ross

Getting out and about to find, and share, new information about the history of our town.

Picture
What a happy bunch we are!
  • Welcome
    • Welcome from our Chairman
    • Welcome to Ballymoney U3A
    • What is U3A?
  • Activities
    • Current Activities
    • Full list of Activities & Reports
  • Monthly Meetings
  • Contact Us
  • Our History
    • Ballymoney U3A History
    • Ballymoney Town
  • Documents and Forms
    • Membership Forms
    • Policy Documents
  • Latest News
    • NEWS Updates
    • Newsletters
  • Administration
    • Administration Forms
    • Committee Meetings