International feel for Family History Society

These included Carol Ann Xanthoudakis (nee Hogg) from Pennsylvania USA, Anders Ronningen from Norway, Rusty Givens from Boulder Colorado USA, Sherry Givens from Wisconsin USA, Kelly Ward from New York USA and May Post from Oregon USA.

Bill Montgomery spoke eloquently on The Honourable the Irish Society, a self funding charitable organisation created by Royal Charter in 1613. It originally consisted of members nominated by 55 livery companies of the City of London to colonise County Londonderry during the plantation of Ulster. Examples of the livery companies and their settlements were the tailors at Macosquin, the Fishmongers at Ballykelly and Clothworkers in Coleraine.

James I of England’s aim was after the conflict of Ireland and the flights of the Earls in 1603 to defend against future attack and this included the building of the walls (1618-1622) by Master Builder Peter Benson and the founding the city of Derry itself. Culmore Fort and its Guns, paid for by the Irish Society, was the site of fighting 1688-89. The Guildhall built in 1890 was another building we have them to thank for, although badly damaged in the 1908 Easter Sunday fire. St Columb’s Cathedral was the first Protestant post reform Cathedral in Europe and was built between 1628-33 was also funded by them.

Coleraine especially has benefitted extensively from their building of the old wooden bridge, ramparts and ditch in 1616 through to their founding of the first free school to which they gave their name on the original site in 1705. The Salmon Leap and Mill built at the end of the 18th Century and the second Coleraine Town Hall finished in 1859. The list is unending.

Our thanks goes out to visitors, speakers and members and we cordially invite anyone interested to come and join us to do so at our next meeting which takes place on Tuesday 26th October at 8.00pm inThe Library, Queen Street, Coleraine.