'Exotic and exciting' - our past times brought to life for the present in Bann Disc

THEY say the past is another country....
And what an exotic and exciting one those wonderful people at Coleraine Historical Society have uncovered with the publication of the 29th volume of the Bann Disc.
Edited by Barbara Harding for her fifth and final time in the hot seat, the popular local history journal journeys well into the past with fascinating tales of derring-do about people and places right across the Causeway Coast and Glens area.
The attention to detail in this year’s publication is immaculate right from the ruby type face on the attractive wraparound cover, pointing towards next year’s 30th anniversary. The cover features a painting of Coleraine Harbour from the 1920s.
Inside things get off to a storming start with Clive Hunter’s fascinating article on Joseph Scott the Highwayman from the late 1700s in and around the Macosquin area. The fully researched and detailed article brings together the oral history associated with Joseph and his ‘gang of robbers.’
Turn over a few pages and you hear the equally fascinating story of May Hezlet, one of the golfing superstars of her day from Aghadowey, by the BBC presenter and keen golfer Anne-Marie McAleese. It’s a tale from the past looking to the future with the announcement that the Open will return to Portrush in 2025.
Keeping with the golfing interest editor Barbara Harding recalls the interesting life story of Miss Kathleen Isabelle Boyd of the Manor House in Ballycastle.
On a different track Brian Griffin tells, in consumate detail, the history behind the Downhill Tunnel Blast from the mid 1840s and how the amazing engineering feats then paved the way for what has been descirbed as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world from Coleraine to Londonderry. But it’s not just an engineering story and Brian tells how the blast was the ‘talk of the town’ of the day, gripping the community at the time.
Former Chronicle editor Hugh McGrattan also features in the latest edition of the Bann Disc, telling the life story of the little known Coleraine Historical Society member and natural history expert Michael Walters. Written in Hugh’s usual lyrical, calm and moving writing style, he reports that “behind Michael’s reserved, even slightly eccentic manner, was an exceptional person.”
An eight-page colour section features illustrations from illuminated address books in the museum service’s keeping and accompanies an article by Helen Perry on the collection and on the background to such books.
These are just a few of many interesting articles on varied themes in the 2023 Bann Disc which features, so many fascinating local personalities and places, all well illustrated.
The articles reflect local life at different time periods ranging from an article on bronze age settlements, to a snapshot of Coleraine 200 years ago and to more modern history with an account of the first elections to the Northern Ireland Parliament in 1921.
The journal makes a wonderful addition to the library of anyone interested in the history of Coleraine and the surrounding area, a perfect Christmas present and will fit into an envelope to be posted to friends and family living further away.
The Bann Disc, priced at £10, is now on sale at the usual local outlets.