Monthly Archives: April 2011

The Korean War 3, The Royal Ulster Rifles

The book by David R Orr and David Truesdale, A New Battlefield, The Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea 1950-51 was launched at the Somme Museum, Conlig on Saturday 23rd April 2011. A New Battlefield follows the Battalion as it prepares … Continue reading

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The Shire Reeve's Tale: 24

This evening , as High Sheriff of Belfast, I was delighted to welcome delegates to the 14th Conference on Metal Forming in the Great Hall of my Alma Mater, the Queens University of Belfast, organised by ESTAFORM. I spoke of … Continue reading

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Holy Week Talk, by Paul Clarke

On Monday 18th April, in the first session of Lunchtime services for Holy Week in Knock Methodist Church, Belfast, I, and my colleagues Jim Rodgers, Stephen Rourke and John McCrea, were privileged to hear Paul Clarke of UTV give a … Continue reading

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SS Nomadic Centenary

Today I attended, as High Sheriff of Belfast and a Board member of the Nomadic Charitable Trust, the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the centenary of the launch of SS Nomadic on board the vessel in Hamilton Dock in … Continue reading

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The Korean War 2, The Columban Fathers

The Society of the Columban Fathers takes its name from St Columbanus, Bangor's senior missionary to Europe in the 6th century. It was first known as the Maynooth Mission to China and was formally launched in 1918 as a missionary … Continue reading

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The Korean War 1, Introduction

Today, as Chairman of the Somme Association, with the Mayor of North Down, Councillor John Montgomery and Alan Mc Farland MLA , one of our trustees, I was at the Somme Museum, Conlig, Co Down to hear our Director, Carol … Continue reading

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The Curious Case of the Carson Plaque

On Sunday night I was phoned by Leslie Houston of the Belfast Telegraph, to ask my opinion on the denial of a commemorative blue plaque to Sir Edward Carson, the founding father of Unionism, by one of the United Kingdom’s … Continue reading

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On Dogs

Do not give dogs what is holy;and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you (Matthew.7:6). Do not give what is holy to dogs, lest they cast them upon the dunghill … Continue reading

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The Shire Reeve's Tale: 23

On the night of Easter Tuesday,15th April 1941, as the result of its loyalty to Britain and her Empire, Belfast suffered the greatest single tragedy in its history..160 bombers of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) attacked the city. Some 900 … Continue reading

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The Shire Reeve's Tale: 22

Today, as High Sheriff of Belfast, I unveiled an Ulster History Circle blue plaque to Brian Desmond Hurst at 23 Ribble Street in the Victoria Ward of East Belfast. I had been initially contacted by Allan Esler Smith, the Personal … Continue reading

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