Looking back at the Bann Disc

Last month the Coleraine Branch of the North of Ireland Family History Society held their most well attended meeting of the winter in the Guide Hall, Terrace Row.

The speaker was Jennifer Cunningham, editor Coleraine Historical Society’s journal, The Bann Disc.

The meeting was opened by Andrew Kane who spoke on “My Favourite Ancestor”, telling us about everyone’s real favourite topic – researching the black sheep of the family. Jennifer then spoke about a selection of stories from the last 21 editions of The Bann Disc with the connecting theme of octogenarians. She told members about how the stories had developed since they first appeared in the Disc. She told about the range of old photographs sent to her from all over the world, and about the global reach of the journal and the extremely valuable contribution it makes in preserving the history of the local area. The next talk is due to be held in the Guide Hall at 8pm on February 23, the speaker will be Graham Mawhinney of Ballinascreen Historical Society