Category: General

by Frances McMichael and Shona Young BEGINNINGS  Countless people left Culfeightrin in the last few centuries. This is just one story of many. John Butler was born around 1843 in the townland of Cross (on the iconic headland of Fair Head), in the shadow of the fort, Dun Mór. He was the son of John Butler and Sally McDonnell and the grandson of John Butler and Nancy McCormick. He was born at the time of the Famine (or Great Hunger) and life was very tough. Food and money were scarce and there was much pressure to leave. Many from Cross,

Cut and run, Wring it and hide, There will be plenty more, That comes in on the tide. The words of a local sea shanty that would have echoed around streets of Ballycastle in the 19th Century. The poem would make reference to the large bales of material that would occasionally make their way through the Rathlin Sound. One such time would have been January 1867, only on this occasion more than bales would make their way into the bays of the coastline. On the weekend 6th January 1867, a strong storm would blow over the north coast of Ireland,

In the Antrim Glens After the last two-part Ballycastle Biography on that fantastic stalwart and collector of folklore Seamus O’deleurgai.  I have decided to continue on with that particular story and genre. Storytelling and folklore, Piseog(superstition) is an integral part of the Irish identity. Our ancient people use to sit around the fire and tell stories, they painted pictures on cave wall and carved stones. They told Stories!  This way of life continued into recent times, and even yet we still love the storyteller down the pub or out on guided walks or bus tours. It adds to the fabric