Meetings & Events

In the early 19th century the original Town Book of Coleraine was compiled by John Claudius Beresford an  Irish Society agent. It was a detailed list of the town’s buildings, tenants and acres (agricultural holdings). Andrew’s book has made the original more “user friendly”. He has included information from several sources including the 1756 and

The launch of this year’s Bann Disc will take place on Wednesday 12 October 2016 in Coleraine Public Library, Queen Street, at 7.00pm. See BANN DISC section for photographs.

Aaron spoke on Henry Barre Beresford, a relative of Tristram Beresford who came to Coleraine with the Plantation. He was born in 1781 and was the land agent to the Marquis of Waterford who owned land in the Limavady area. He was interested in agricultural husbandry and land improvement and was considered to be a

A very interesting talk attracted nearly 60 members and guests. Leonard spoke of his great uncle Robert from Bushmills who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in WW1. Robert, born in 1885, worked at Dundarave,  the MacNaughten estate in Bushmills. During the war he was batman(servant) to L/t Sir Henry MacNaughten who fell

See News section for report

Our first talk of the autumn season, which was very well attended by members and visitors, was given by Ken McCormack. He spoke of Frideswide Bruce who was  brought up in Killyleagh and married a much older man Daniel Mussenden. She was the cousin of Frederick Augustus Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of

Pearl, a well known local historian, gave an illustrated talk on Robert  McCahon Dicky who emigrated from Kilrea to Canada where he was a student of theology  in Manitoba University from 1894 – 97. He moved to the Klondike during the gold stampede of 1897 and raised money for a church and hospital with the

Dr. Crawford’s illustrated  talk explained that the Coleraine Hoard was found buried in a field in Ballinrees near Coleraine in 1854. The Hoard consisted of over 1,000 Roman  silver coins and artefacts dating from the 5th century. Some of the coins were clipped i.e. defaced. As the Romans were not known to have come to

Committee Member Anne-Marie Huston and Mark Doherty Mark spoke of his great uncle Patrick Joseph Doherty who lived at the Irish Houses, on the Castlerock Road, Coleraine. He joined the Royal Navy in 1915 and became a stoker, 1st class, on HMS Lion battlecruiser and flagship commanded by Vice-Admiral Beatty. The British fleet’s task was

Ian spoke of the fate of HMS Drake the armoured cruiser which was hit by a German torpedo off the north-east coast of Rathlin Island on 2 October 1917. Captain Radcliffe managed to sail the ship as far as Church Bay where it sank in 40 feet of water. Eight hundred men were rescued but

See News for report.

Speakers at Members’ Night 18.11.09. Back row :- Harry Gregg, Linda Gilmore Front row:-  Grant Cameron and Norman Hamill

Volume 21 of the Bann Disc will be launched in Coleraine Library on Wednesday 14 October at 7.00pm  

Paul Clements giving his talk with Richard Hayward in the background Richard Hayward was born in England in 1892 and moved to Larne as a child. He was a man of many talents and Paul told us he was involved in Drama and Broadcasting, having played at the Gaiety and Abbey theatres in Dublin and

Our first meeting of 2016 was well attended by over 50 members and visitors. Jennifer’s illustrated talk was based on research which she had done on the history of Hezlett House near Castlerock. Built as  rectory for Dunboe Parish in 1691 the house was a cruck and truss structure without foundations but built on firm

Despite a cold and wet evening 50 members and visitors came to hear Ken’s talk which was based on 3″x 3″ glass slides which contain advertisements used in the Picture Palace cinema in Coleraine during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Some slides were general e.g. for products such as Persil & Aspro. Others were specific to