Loss of Biodiversity Along the North Coast Shoreline

I was given a copy of some remarks by Professor Amyan McFadyen, Emeritus Professor Biology at the University of Ulster, Coleraine on the state of our coastline:

I have been a regular observer of the seashore fauna and flora for the last 37 years.

When I first came to the area the seashore was rich in most groups of invertebrate animals, especially Molluscs, such as Nudibranchs Gasteropods and Aplysioids, Echinoderms including Ophiuroids Echinoids and Asteroids and a wide variety of brown and red Algae with very limited amounts of green species.

Today few of these invertebrates can be found at all and there is a great predominence of green algae, generally regarded as indicators of excessive nutrients especially nitrates and phosphates.

Today if one lifts a stone in the rocky intertidal region anywhere from Portstewart to Ballintoy the likelihood is that one will encounter black mud and anoxic conditions inimical to any form of life requiring Oxygen

Over the years I have attempted to draw attention to the situation both with the National Trust, in connection with their "Enterprise Neptune" scheme and also the D.O.E. On one occasion I was quoted water analysis readings taken many miles offshore, which were totally irrelevant.

I believe that the combined nutrient load derived both from sewage and from farming runoff has caused severe eutrophication of the intertidal waters which is not surprising considering that organic wastes from both urban and farming sources have greatly, increased over the period under consideration.

Contributions on this theme can be sent to the NALIL blog address in the right panel.

Discharge at Portcoon

Discharge at Runkerry

Discharge at Portballintrae

Community Against Racist Attack

A short notice invitation from Portballintrae Residents' Association:

On Thursday 15 May 2008 at 2.30pm Portballintrae will show its support for all people in the village against violence. We will announce the formation of CARA: Community Against Racist Attack at the Beach Road site.

The Mayor of Coleraine, elected members of Council and other distinguished guests will be on hand for this press event.

Please come out and show the world that we will not allow these attacks in Portballintrae.

There have been a series of attacks on the homes, cars and businesses of newcomers to Bushmills and district during the past year or so. Let's hope that the authorities, public representatives and neighbours can, in their different ways, help to bring such attacks to a speedy end and that everyone can enjoy a measure of peace and prosperity together, not apart.

Adds

Portballintrae Residents' Association Statement

Many people in Portballintrae were disgusted by the incident at the weekend when two cars belonging to a Bulgarian family were set alight and lives were put at risk.

This is not the first racist attack in the village and we feel that a united effort must be made to show that this community does not condone such behaviour.

Griffith's Valuation of Ireland

You can search this AskaboutIreland site by family name and placename [has gone offline at present]. The valuation of NALIL territory was carried out about 1861 and the revised records are available at PRONI.

PRONI also has some old land registry records and I found a will belonging to one of my great grandparents in the files. The land registry reference is of the form NI/xxxx where x is a digit from 0 to 9 and the reference can be found in the certificates held at Land and Property Services.

Charmed by County Antrim

My first visit to Northern Ireland happened about one year ago in 2007 when my husband, Patrick Kelley, and his three brothers and wives - all eight of us - visited and toured Ireland, Scotland and a wee bit of England by rail and by ferry. We had a glorious time but were on a definite and tight schedule.

I had made it known that a cousin had connected with my McKeeman family in County Antrim and that I’d love to zip up there to connect and to see the birthplace of my Great Great Grandmother McConaghy of Deffrick and Great Great Grandfather McKeeman of Ballyoglagh, never thinking that any of my brothers or sisters-in-law would want to join on that part of the trip. But, alas, they did not want to miss a thing and so the eight of us left Belfast in two rental cars to spend one day in County Antrim.

We met Nevin and Agnes, two local members of NALIL, and were greeted warmly and whisked off to visit farms, cemeteries and the marriage site of my grandparents. It was quite a humbling experience for me and, though we had only a brief whirlwind tour, I was won over by the warmth of our hosts, as well as by the natural beauty of the land. Leaving there so soon in order to return the rental cars to Belfast, my heart was heavy; I felt pulled to stay in the area longer than time would permit.

Imagine my joy, then, to have the invitation from my cousin Jane to tour Northern Ireland this spring of 2008 and to be able to linger and to enjoy the area for a longer period. Jane and her husband, Dan, flew from Tucson, Arizona; a good mutual friend, Marjorie, flew in from Fort Wayne, Indiana; I flew from Greenville, South Carolina; and we all met up at Dublin Airport. It was a bit of a reunion for us; Jane, Marjorie and I had been schoolmates during our high school years!

More (DOC) or More (PDF)

Bonnie Kelly, South Carolina, USA

What can I add to Bonnie's wonderful letter! She almost said it all. But Dan and I want to add our love and good wishes to all those who so beautifully entertained us and introduced us to the homeland of our ancestors. Thank you one and all so very much.

Our tummies are full, our eyes have seen so many wonders, our ears have been soothed with traditional music and we have met some of the most gracious and kind people on this earth. We wish we could drop in for a visit every so often. But, lo, we live so very far away. We really hope some of our dear new friends will come to see us in Arizona one day.

And to all those who are our County Antrim friends: God be with you till we meet again!

Jane and Dan Hodgson

Nevin adds:

Biography of David Charles McKeeman, Allen County, Indiana.

McConaghy of Deffrick at GenForum

McKeemans on the Move