I have come across a few short histories of Ballycastle and have decided to publish them here.
The first of the histories is by Robert McCahan who was born in Ballycastle in 1863.
He published twenty-three pamphlets of local interest and these have been reproduced together in a single book published by the Glens of Antrim Historical Society. (I.S.B.N. 0 948154 55 1)
"History of Ballycastle" - Robert McCahan
The next is the text of a lecture given by Hugh Alexander Boyd in 1968. This lecture was given during the town's civic week.
"Old Ballycastle" - Hugh A. Boyd
This is from Volume 3 of "The Glynns" - the journal of the Glens of Antrim Historical Society.
"Ballycastle 18th Century Industries" - Cahal Dallat
This description of Ballycastle, compiled in the year 1831, is copied from the Manuscript Memoirs of the first Ordnance Survey of Ireland and preserved in Box 15 in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin. It has previously been published in "The Glynns"
Ballycastle in the 1830s
This description of Ballycastle was written by J.P.O'Kane and first published in the Glensman Volume 1, Number 2, November, 1931. It was reprinted by the Glens of Antrim Historical Society in a hardback compilation of "The Glensman" from the 1930s and entitled "Or Fifty Years Ago"
"Ballycastle in the past" - J. P. O'Kane
These notes were published along with the notes of the two lectures by Hugh A Boyd during Ballycastle's civic week, 1968
"Notes on Bonamargy Friary, Ballycastle" - Hugh A. Boyd
This short history is by Rev. Canon Forde, sometime rector of Tamlaghtfinlagan Parish, Diocese of Derry , and Canon of Derry. His book was published in 1927.
"Sketches of Olden Days in Northern Ireland" - Rev. Canon Forde
A further history of Bonamargy was written by H C Lawlor and published in "The Glensman" No.2 Vol. 1. of November, 1931. It can also be found in the more recent bound volume "Or Fifty Years Ago". I have also included the letters that followed the controversial remarks he made in the article.
"Bun-na-mairge Friary" - H. C. Lawlor
I have extracted all the articles relating to Ballycastle from the "Glens in the news" section of "The Glensman" for the issues between November 1931 and November 1932. Published alongside them is scans of the ads for Ballycastle businesses from the same publication.
"The Glens in the News" - "Glenshesk"
This history of the Parish of Ramoan is taken from the "Diocese of Down & Connor - ancient and modern" (Vol.IV.). This was written by the Rev. J. O'Laverty P.P.M.R.I.A. and first published in 1887. There was a limited edition fascimile printed and published by Davidson Books Spa, Ballynahinch, Co. Down in 1982.
The Parish of Ramoan
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