McKeeman Family Request

Hello!

I’m going to jump out on a limb here and send out some information in hopes that by chance you might be able to forward this to a pertinent party.

I happened across your NALIL from July 26, 2007 while I was surfing for information about my relatives. Your article about the McKeemans of Antrim came up. I wondered if anyone would be interested in a distantly removed relative from Canada. My grandmother was a McKeeman, and her family came from Ballymena, to Canada possibly around 1838, and then to Greenock Twp., Bruce County, Ontario, Canada in 1869. Near as I can tell, there were three brothers perhaps – Daniel (b. 1808), Robert (b. 1810), and John (b. ? 1822 – seems to be a big gap there, so not certain how reliable my information is) who is my great-great-grandfather. They ended up in Maryborough Twp, Wellington County, West Gwillimbury Twp, Simcoe County, and Greenock Twp, Bruce County respectively.

I would love contact from anyone who might be interested in conversing about family histories. Hoping your website is still live. Please pass on my email address and thank you so much for what help you may be able to provide.

Jennifer Barna

jbarna@btms.com

Jennifer, can you please contact Judy Anderson plantsncn@comcast.net

Danny McGill's Archaelogy Tour of Ballycastle

The Working Shore

Archaeology Days Tours
Sat 13th & Sun 14th June, 1.30 & 4pm.

Local historian Danny McGill, will lead tours exploring evidence of salt production (circa 1629 onwards), coal mining and harbours along the working shore. This tour will last approx 1½ hours. There will also be evidence of this industrial archaeology on display. Transport will be provided at a cost of £3.50 per person. Pre-booking is essential as numbers are limited. Book through Ballycastle Tourist Office. For further information tel: (028) 20762024.

NIEA Archaeology Days 2009

Minister Sammy Wilson in Need of Some Retail Therapy?

As rumours circulate about Sammy's possible departure from the Department of the Environment the Minister met today with members of Bushmills Townscape Heritage Initiative, Moyle District Councillors and public servants.

The party then went on a walking tour of the Main Street, talked to local shopkeepers and had an opportunity to witness neatly maintained properties as well as the ravishes of developer blight: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I couldn't help noticing that not one of the 'DUP 4' from the 'I know of him' debacle of 2007 were in attendance. I bumped into Seymour Sweeney, developer and DUP member, later in the day but there was no sign of local DUP councillor, David McAllister, or the Paisleys, father and son. Might this indicate a possible break in the DUP mould?

Mount Druid Vintage Rally at Ballintoy Rectory 13 June 2009

Photos from 2008 Rally

Mount Druid Vintage Rally at Ballintoy Rectory

THIS year the Mount Druid Vintage Rally will be on Saturday, June 13 in the grounds of Ballintoy Rectory starting at 11am.

There will be many of the usual attractions like the vintage vehicles, threshing displays, wood carving, crafts, stalls, amusements, teas, all day barbecue, Marconi Radio, lots of dancers, live music etc but this year there will be a quiet area where mums and toddlers can enjoy a sand pit and other toys.

There will also be farm animals and even some which are not native to Ballintoy so please make a mental note to come along and enjoy a great day out for all the family.

Bugs Bunny has promised to drop in for a visit as well as the ice cream man!

Admission is held for this seventh year at £3 adults and £2 seniors. Primary School children are admitted free.

Ballintoy Rectory is situated half way between Ballintoy village and Whitepark Bay on the Whitepark Road.

For further details call Leslie on 207 32170 or Rev Barton on 207 68155.

[Ballymoney Times]

Bushmills At War Exhibition July 2009

This year's exhibition covers
Coleraine, Ballymoney, Portrush and Portstewart
as well and lists of names will be displayed.

Click on images to enlarge

Last year's Bushmills At War Exhibition

Danny McGill @ Boyd Symposium

Following lunch Vivien Costello from the Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland, presented a paper on the Irish Ramifications of the Boyd family, followed by Professor Louis Cullen, Professor Emeritus of Trinity College, Dublin, who spoke on the Boyds of Bordeaux in the 18thcentury. The 3rd Session began with a talk by Professor David Hancokc, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on Augustus Boyd. Daniel McGill, Ballycastle Historical Research Group, Ireland, then introduced the Boyd of Ballycastle archive which he and his wife Jayne McGill have catalogued and part of which was on display in Danson House. The Ballycastle Archive includes miniatures of both John and Augustus Boyd, so “faces were put to names,” as the Boyd family returned to Danson House for a short visit.

After a guided tour of the house, with comments offered by the master archaeologist and restorer of the property, there was a wine tasting of wines from Chateau Boyd-Cantenac near Bordeaux, vineyards begun by an 18th century Boyd. Each speaker was presented with a bottle of Jacques Boyd Margaux. The symposium ended after a festive candlelight dinner in the library of Danson House.

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