The son of a Larne woman and his family visited the town for the first time last week and were full of praise for a town they knew so well.

Richard Daly, from Smithtown, New York, grew up with an image of the Black Arch in the family home, and heard lots of memories from his mum Iris and aunt Ruby, the first of the family to settle in the US.

Ruby married Charles Rudzinski at Larne Methodist Church and was one of the town's GI brides. She made a new and happy home with her husband after the war in Baltimore.

Iris lived with Ruby for a short time in Maryland and after her marriage she and her husband settled in New York.

Richard Daly and family sign the visitor's book at the Mayor's Parlour in Larne, where they received a warm welcome from Mayor Alderman Tom Gordon.

placeholder image — Richard Daly and family sign the visitor's book at the Mayor's Parlour in Larne, where they received a warm welcome from Mayor Alderman Tom Gordon.

The businessman said that he grew up with stories of Larne from both women, and during a visit to Larne Museum recalled how Iris still talks about the Princess Victoria disaster of 1953. She had worked at the harbour and left for a new life in the USA the year before the ship went down, but she knew many of the staff who were on board.

Ruby provided a memoir of her story to former Times journalist Dr. David Hume, and featured in articles in the paper and in his book about Ulster emigrants, Far from the green fields of Erin.

Carrickfergus and Ballymena sites proposed for dog exercise parks

David organised the visits to Larne Museum and the Mayor's Parlour for the family.

Richard Daly and family pictured in the Mayor's Parlour in Larne with Mayor Alderman Tom Gordon, Marion Kelso and Dr David Hume.

At the museum they received an emotional surprise when they saw a section on the museum's America 250 storyboard app which tells Ruby's story.

Richard, wife Karen and children Hannah, Ava and Evan then met Mayor Alderman Tom Gordon in the town hall and said they were delighted at how friendly Larne people they had met.

When they visited Larne cemetery to locate family graves, some locals who were out walking got into conversation with them and helped them find the graves, and at Carson Street they met a woman who remembered the family.

Richard and Karen said that they were overwhelmed with the short visit to Larne and that their first visit will definitely not be their last.