Author Archives: Ian Adamson

When I was a little boy I regularly used to visit Mrs Bruce, the caretaker of Helen’s Tower at Clandeboye, County Down. This beautiful Tower was designed by William Burn, constructed in 1848-50, probably as a Great Famine Relief project, … Continue reading →

7th September, 2010  Lord Molyneaux of Killead  Dear Lord Molyneaux,  For the past year we have been establishing a Grand Unionist Centenary Committee, bringing together representatives of the greater Unionist Community to organise a series of events celebrating the Centenary … Continue reading →

On 7th June 2010 we witnessed the 93rd anniversary of the Battle of Messines Ridge and commemorated the death of Willie Redmond, the Irish Nationalist MP for East Clare in the House of Commons and brother of John Redmond, the … Continue reading →

Continued from Part 1:After visiting Portavogie's new harbour, opened by HRH The Princess Anne in 1985, the Minister travelled on to the Somme Heritage Centre and Museum at Whitespots, Conlig, Newtownards, the Headquarters of the Somme Association, of which I … Continue reading →

De Valera Connection On Friday 27th August, 2010, on behalf of the Ullans Academy and the Portavogie Culture and Heritage Society, I was delighted to welcome Éamon Ó Cuív, the grandson of Éamon de Valera, for whom he is named, … Continue reading →

On Friday 27th August, 2010 the Ards  received a visit from Eamon O'Cuiv Minister of Social Protection of the Government of Ireland.Born on 23rd June 1950 Minister O'Cuiv is a Fianna Fail politician,who has been a TD for the Galway … Continue reading →

Grand Unionist Centenary Committee 25th August 2010 Present –Ian Adamson(Chair) Stephen Gough/David Hagan/Samuel Morrison for Keith Harbinson/David Stitt/Ron Stitt/Frankie Gallagher/Carol Walker/Dawson Baillie Apologies – Keith Harbinson/Christopher Stalford/David Campbell/ABOD/DUP/UUP/PUP Chair welcomed all including those who were here for the first time. … Continue reading →

On the Hill of Down I stood at the funeral of Ian Julian McCartan Hill with two Annadale Grammar School Vikings, Jim McDowell (Son of the Dark Foreigner) and Erskine Holmes (Isles Man) looking towards the Mournes. I thought not … Continue reading →

The British Monarchy This year Queen Elizabeth II celebrated the 58th year of her Reign, making her one of the longest reigning monarchs in British history and the longest serving since the death of Queen Victoria, her great, great grandmother … Continue reading →

On 7th August 2010, at the invitation of Gerry Adams MP, I attended a hurling competition named after the Irish Unionist Leader Edward Carson, which formed part of an event at Stormont of this year’s Féile an Phobail, the West … Continue reading →