Programme of Events
Meetings & Events
Our meetings are normally held on 3rd Tuesday of the month in:
Sandel Centre, 6 Knocklynn Road, Coleraine, BT52 1WT
@ 7.30 pm unless otherwise stated. There are no meetings in July, August nor December.
Visitors are very welcome at all our meetings.
Admission for non-member is £3.00. This includes tea/coffee and biscuits after the meeting.
Event Information
19 January 2021 – Tom Fraser – The Creation Northern Ireland
Professor Thomas G. Fraser MBE is Emeritus Professor of History at Ulster University. Educated at the University of Glasgow (MA, Ewing Prize) and the London School of Economics (PhD in International History), he came to the New University of Ulster in Coleraine in 1969, retiring as Provost of the University of Ulster’s Magee campus in
24 November 2020 – Launch of The Bann Disc, Vol 26
24 November 2020 – Launch of The Bann Disc, Vol 26 Zoom Lunch Zoom launch of our annual journal – The Bann Disc, Volume 26. The Bann Disc reflects on the fantastic wealth of history and heritage that exists in the greater Coleraine area and is a compilation of articles, stories and photographs from
17 November 2020 – The Robert Anderson Memorial Talk
17 November 2020 – The Robert Anderson Memorial Talk It is hard to believe that two years have passed since the untimely death of Robert Anderson, our previous Chairman, on 4 November 2018. As a tribute to Robert, our November talk was thereafter designated The Robert Anderson Memorial Talk. This year, for the second such
20 October 2020 – Andrew Kane – Old Coleraine Elections
20 October 2020 – OLD COLERAINE ELECTIONS Andrew is a Trustee of the North of Ireland Family History Society and active member their Causeway Coast and Glens Branch. He is also a member of several other local history groups in the Coleraine area where his family have lived for at least 12 generations. He
29 September 2020 – Billy Bones -Some Memories of the Derry Central Railway
Some Memories of the Derry Central Railway While most of us are familiar with Billy`s long association with pantomime in Coleraine, perhaps not so many will know that Billy started his working life on the railway, with much of his early career spent on the Derry Central line between Macfin and Magherafelt It was Billy`s
25 August 2020 -1st Zoom Meeting – Discovering Mountsandel
Coleraine Historical Society’s First ZOOM Meeting 25 August 2020 – Discovering Mountsandel Rachael Garrett has been Secretary of Mountsandel Discovery and Heritage Group (MDHG) since its establishment in 2017. She has a keen interest in local history and the archaeology of Causeway Coast and Glens. As a result, Rachael has pursued a career in
17 March 2020 – AGM and Dinner
THE DINNER AND AGM WERE CANCELLED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
18 February 2020 – Mike Jones on The Lost Gardens of Dunboe
18 February 2020 – Mike Jones on The Lost Gardens of Dunboe An illustrated talk by Mike Jones. Mike will talk about Sir Hervey Bruce, 4th Baronet and his wife Lady Ellen. She died in 1891 and 2 gardens were created in her memory in the secluded area skirting the south side of the Old
21 January 2020 – Mark Rodgers on The Giant’s Causeway and its People
Over 60 members and visitors attended this most interesting talk. Mark, who works for Dalriada Kingdom Tours, spoke on the early people of the Causeway and their occupations. The first person to drive a pony and trap down to the Causeway in the early C19th was Alec Purdy. Among the activities were kelp gathering, (to
12 November 2019 -Launch of Bann Disc Volume 25
The launch of volume 25 2019 took place in the Sandel Centre on Tuesday 12 November 2019 at 7pm and the event was well attended. Chairman Geoff Warke welcomed members and guests and thanked the editorial committee for the production of this year’s journal. The guest speaker was Helen Perry of Causeway Coast
19 November 2019 – Hugh Clarke on A Brief History of Golf at Portrush
Hugh gave an interesting and detailed history of Royal Portrush Golf Club from its beginning until the hosting of the Open this year. 1888 was its founding year as a 9 hole course and members were by invitation. The Railway Co. was a sponser. In 1889 it was decided to form an 18 hole course
12 November 2019 – The Bann Disc Launch
The launch of volume 25, 2019 of the Bann Disc will take place on Tuesday 12 November 2019 at 7.00pm in The Sandel Centre, Knocklynn Road, Coleraine. Members and guests are welcome.
17 September 2019 – John Marshall on AVX, 40 Years in Coleraine
The company AVX is based in the U.S.A. and its Coleraine plant, which was extended in 1999/2000, has been in Hillman’s Way for 40 years. It began as an assembly plant for capacitors (electronic devices used to store electronic charges) and then moved to making them. Several million are made each day. It is a
22 June 2019 – Outing to Mossley Mill Museum and Sentry Hill
For report and photos see NEWS section.
15 October 2019 – Geoff Warke on The Girl from Theatre Street
Before Geoff gave his talk vice-chairman Mike Jones told us that Dunboe Gardens are to be refurbished also the Bruce family vault. Geoff spoke of Benjie Bruce the 4th son of Sir Hervey Jukes Lloyd Bruce, 4th Baronet of Downhill, who spent much of his early life in Downhill House. He became a British diplomat
21 May 2019 – John Moore on Portrush, the Coming of the Railway
Over 50 people, members and visitors, attended John’s illustrated talk. In 1848 the railway line came from Belfast to Ballymena and by 1853 there was a line from Derry to Coleraine’s Waterside Station. Portrush was becoming a popular holiday resort and the railway reached there from Coleraine’s Northbrook Station in 1855.Over the years the station
16 April 2019 – Ken McCormack on the Bruces of Downhill
Over 50 people (visitors and members) attended our much loved speaker Ken and his talk on the Bruces of Downhill Castle. The House was built in the late 18th century by the Earl Bishop and was occupied by 4 generations of the Bruce family some of whom were eccentric. It was destroyed by fire
19 February 2019 – Billy Bones on Coleraine Pantomimes
In January 2018 our member Billy Bones gave a talk on Pantomime in Coleraine, however, it was a dreadful night with snow and ice so the attendance was low. Billy very kindly agreed to re-do his presentation. He explained that pantomime originated in ancient Rome, sometimes with a single male performer. Billy “fell in love”