Alister McReynolds to give Independence Day Lecture

In his new book, ‘Kith and Kin’, published Summer 2013, Alister McReynolds presents an alternative image of the Scots Irish in America, partially drawing on some of his own family’s history, and capturing between the covers 
portraits of a gallery of individuals who made an instrumental contribution to the creation of America as a bastion of the modern world.

Alister has written exclusively on Scots Irish history and culture and in particular about the achievements of the diaspora in the United States.

In the Independence Day Lecture Alister will draw on this material and present an engaging image of an ingenious and energetic ethnic group whose achievements he believes should be better recognised, especially here in Ulster. He will mention a number of Ballymoney families and individuals.

Alister is widely recognised as a witty and entertaining speaker and the event promises to be a enjoyable evening. The event is promoted by Ballymoney Borough Council Corporate & Development Unit in association with Ballymoney Chamber of Commerce.

Alister McReynolds, author of, ‘Legacy- The Scots Irish in America’, has spent his entire working life as a teacher in the Northern Ireland Secondary and Tertiary sectors. Fourteen of those years were spent as a College Principal.

Among accolades he was awarded Honorary Membership of City and Guilds of London Institute in recognition of his contribution to vocational education.

During recent years Alister has lectured extensively in the United States, including at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and has worked closely with the Maine Ulster Scots Project (MUSP), and with the University of Southern Maine.

Currently he is an Honorary Research Fellow at The Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies with the University of Ulster. Currently he lectures part-time with The Open Learning Department in Q.U.B. In recent times Alister has appeared in various TV and radio 
programmes.