‘Home rule’ website launched at Braid

New Perspectives - an online learning resource which covers the period from 1911 to 1914 - was launched at The Braid last week.

The website draws strongly on documents from an Ulster Volunteer Force archive held at the Museum. The archive was found at the Braidwater Spinning Mill and acquired by the Council some years ago after they were made aware of its existence by Ballymena Times’ Editor, Des Blackadder, who has a keen interest in the period.

The resource uses objects, photographs and documents to explore some of the key local people and events of the time. It draws on research by local historian Philip Orr, published in ‘New Perspectives: Politics, Religion and Conflict in Mid-Antrim 1911–1914’.

The range of activities allows pupils to complete free research as well as taking part in progressive tasks.

Philip Orr, who was commissioned by the Museum to write New Perspectives: Politics Religion and Conflict in Mid-Antrim 1911-114, opened proceedings with excerpts from his successful play 1912, A hundred Years On and provided a local context, describing how momentous national events played out locally in Ballymena and surrounding area. Dr. Éamon Phoenix Senior Lecturer at Stranmillis College offered the participants a Nationalist perspective on the crisis, highlighting some influential characters within the pro-Home Rule movement. Dr. Johnston McMaster and Dr. Cathy Higgins from the Irish School of Ecumenics explored why so many Ulster Protestants were determined to resist Home Rule and examined some key themes within the Ulster Covenant itself.

The seminar was part of an initiative by the Museum, working in partnership with Ballymena Learning Together Partnership, supported by the North East Education and Library Board, to further good relations between post-primary schools in the area by exploring together their shared histories. The day’s proceedings were well received by both students and teachers who found the sessions to be very useful for their own programmes of study within the classroom.

The event was attended by the Mayor of Ballymena, Ald. P. J. McAvoy, local councillors and project funders.

Michael Graham from the North Eastern Education Library Board said: “At a time when we our young people are studying and appreciating a number of significant centenaries from our past, it is tremendous that the most modern technologies can be used to further bring to life the relevance and drama of these events. We would encourage schools to use this valuable resource in exploring the richness of our shared heritage from which all can learn.”

Visit http://newperspectives.thebraid.com to find out more. You can also reach the site via www.thebraid.com

The New Perspectives project has received funding from the Community Relations Council, the Northern Ireland Museums Council, and Ballymena Council’s Good Relations Unit and has been endorsed by the North Eastern Education Library Board.

New Perspectives: Politics Religion and Conflict in Mid-Antrim 1911-1914 is available for purchase at The Braid, where you can also view a display of artefacts relating to Home Rule and the Ulster Covenant on display until October 26.