Family planning time capsule to tell the story of century-old Glens homestead - and its wartime links

Glenariffe woman Claire Giblin is currently building a house on land at Garron Road, near her 100-year-old family home.

Claire, who returned to County Antrim after living in The Netherlands for 25 years, is hoping to preserve her family history for future generations by burying a capsule at the site of the new build.

The history of the original Garron Road homestead goes back to Claire's great-grandparents.

Her great-grandfather, County Cork native John O'Gorman, was a captain in the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Jessie. During his travels, he met and married Carnlough woman, Catherine O'Gorman.

In November 1917, the SS Jessie had been travelling from Calais to Middlesborough when it came under fire from a German submarine.

Sadly, the attack claimed the lives of Captain O'Gorman, aged 35, and Catherine's brother Patrick Black.

By a strange twist of fate, Catherine’s other brother Johnny, who should also have been on the ship, survived by remaining in a Calais pub instead of boarding the fateful vessel.

Claire still has the letter that her great-grandmother was sent informing her of her husband's death, as well as a number of love letters between the couple.

Further correspondence was sent to reassure the widowed Catherine that John’s dependants would be provided for.

Catherine, who was at the time of the tragedy pregnant with their second child, used a sum of money from the Merchant Navy to build the Glenariffe homestead.

Constructed in 1923, it was thought to be the first house in the Glens to have an inside toilet.

The property was used by Catherine as lodgings and for people to come and stay, and has remained in the family since.

Now, 100 years on, the new build will be on the land originally purchased with the compensation that Catherine received.

Claire said the decision to return home was made as a result of the Covid pandemic, so that she, husband Scott, and daughters Eleanor and Keira could be closer to family.

Alongside the fascinating story of the family home, they are hoping to place a number of other items in the time capsule, from photos, coins, architectural drawings, and a shopping receipt.