I wrote a few years ago about the 25th anniversary of the Larne Grammar School Conservation Society, which was formed in response to the Blue Peter Christmas Appeal that year. The society started with a recycling campaign but grew very quickly to include clean ups, tree planting, education, and all sorts of other activities. Nearly…
I was in Northern Ireland recently visiting friends & family, and I took a trip to Gleno Waterfall. The National Trust property is one that I visit relatively regularly when I’m in the area, not just because it is a rather pretty view, but also because it is very near where I grew up, and…
Today – 7th February 2015 – is National Library Day. Libraries in the UK have become a point of contention, with funding for them cut in this time of austerity, and their use having declined somewhat. For me, however, the library was such an important part of my childhood that it often felt like a…
As the signs of autumn grow towards winter and the leaves turn from green to a carpet of crisp oranges and golds around me, I am reminded of the same season twenty five years ago, which was one of those times that had a major impact on my life, but as is often the case…
I have mentioned before that I grew up in the Northern Irish seaside town of Larne, so when I saw that BBC NI were showing a programme called “I Love Larne” on Monday evening, I was keen to see how they would promote my home town. However, it is fair to say that many of…
I found myself in Carnlough, a village on the pretty County Antrim coast recently, on the famously scenic Antrim Coast Road. I do find it odd, though, that the area’s use as a location for parts of Game of Thrones seems to have done more for tourism there than so many of the previous attempts…
I have mentioned before that I grew up in the town of Larne in Northern Ireland, and that this is a ferry port, with me being mistaken for taking part in an air sea rescue there, as well as pointing out the rather noticeable landmark of Chaine Memorial Tower, which is very visible to those…
Anyone who has sailed to or from the port of Larne in Northern Ireland will be familiar with the rather striking landmark that is The Chaine Memorial Tower near the entrance to the harbour. It is a replica of a traditional Irish round tower, and is visible from the harbour and the surrounding area. It…
Today is Easter Saturday, when the shops of the country find out if they have enough Easter Eggs to meet the local demand, as shoppers suddenly remember to get those last minute chocolate gifts for children, friends, relatives and other loved ones, as the last minute panic of shops being closed for an extra day…
I mentioned recently about the MV Princess Victoria ferry disaster, and commented at the time on how I am reminded of it each time I sail to or from Larne, and it made me think about some of the other ferry crossings that I have had the pleasure to experience. A couple of the more…
I blogged yesterday on the apparently large number of incidents, often negative, that have happened on the 30th January over the years, and on Twitter afterwards, I surmised that perhaps there is not an unusual number of world events on this date, it is just that I am familiar with quite a few, and so…