Ballymena Castle wallsexhibition ‘set in stone’

As it was demolished in the late 1950s, with only the gatehouse left standing, it is hard to imagine what a grand structure it was. Indeed, there are few tangible remains of the Adair legacy locally, apart from The People’s Park.

From its inception, the Mid-Antrim Museum at The Braid has been active in researching the history of the Castle, and in tracking down any artefacts that have survived.

The recent purchase of the six sculpted Loughbrignar red sandstone blocks on which Masonic, heraldic and romantic emblems have been carved and which formerly decorated the exterior walls of the Castle is the most significant in scale.

After Mid-Antrim Museum acquired the stones with funding support from the Northern Ireland Museums Council, the museum sent them to stone conservator Graciela Ainsworth, who repaired and cleaned them.

They now have a permanent home in the Museum in Ballymena.

The historic stones are now set to go on display in the Braid’s Exhibition Gallery from July 10-August 17 as part of ‘The Project of Plantation – 17th Century changes in North East Ulster’ exhibition which will also tell the story of the Adairs and their importance in the history of Ballymena.