Leaflet guides steps into the past of village

Valerie Beattie with Ballycarry children at the start of heritage trail. INLT 21-603-CON

The Ballycarry Heritage Trail leaflet was given a trial outing by members of Ballycarry Primary School and their teacher, Michael Anderson, to launch the new initiative, which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The leaflet takes people on a one-hour walk around the village, highlighting the main points of historical interest and buildings of note, including the three local churches, the unique Californian-style houses on Main Street, the local primary school and other sites.

Association chairman Dr David Hume was tour guide for the launch and public relations officer Valerie Beattie also joined the children for the venture.

“This should be a really interesting and useful leaflet for visitors and locals alike,” she said. “It was really encouraging to see the interest of the children in the village history and I enjoyed particularly talking to them about my memories of the primary school being officially opened by General  Steele,”

Dr Hume said that the trail leaflet was the last component of a Heritage Lottery Fund support package for the Orr Memorial and other historical aspects of the area.

“We now have the Weaver’s Trail leaflet, plaques and signage, as well as a reprint of the Templecorran Cemetery booklet and this walking trail, so there is a good infrastructure in place,” he  said.

“We hope to encourage visitors to the area to see the rich heritage which is so visible. It is important that when visitors come to the area the interpretation is in place and what has been provided is complemented by other council and community interpretation, so that should make for an interesting and informed visit,” he added.

“We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support in this project, as it has really helped us highlight the rich heritage attached to James Orr, the Weaver Bard, and also the amazing and unique history which the village possesses: everything from an early Christian carved stone in the cemetery to the general who signed the mobilisation order for the Second World War being born and buried here.