Armed Forces Day - Carrickfergus

June 25th has been declared Armed Forces Day throughout the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland our Armed Forces Day event was held in Carrickfergus with the impressive Norman castle as the backdrop.  This was a fitting location as Carrickfergus was historically a garrison town.

Taking centre stage was the regimental band of the Royal Irish Regiment which entertained members of the public as they viewed the many artefacts on display, many of which dated from the second world war.

The following photographs are just a few of what were taken on the day, the highlight of which was a fly past of modern day RAF fighter jets.

Photographed operating this rare anti aircraft gun is David McCallion who has assembled the largest collection of such equipment in Ireland. Sadly he has been unable to enlist the support of the relevant Assembly Minister and the collection will be broken up, most items going abroad. This gun is the only fully complete and operating gun surviving. The following photographs also show some of the other artefacts in David's collection. To see more of David's collection visit www.waryearsremembered.co.uk.

Arthur Blessitt in Belfast

Some will remember that Arthur Blessitt visited Belfast many years ago, he is the man who carried the cross around the world in every nation and is listed in the Guinness World Records for the world's longest walk over 39,227 miles, through 318 countries & major island groups for 42 years.


On Saturday 18 June I came across him in Cornmarket Belfast where a Christian street drama was in progress after which Arthur Blessitt then addressed the passing shoppers.  As an onlooker I found the drama a powerful means of conveying the Christian message and it certainly attracted quite a crowd.  The following are some of the photographs that I captured.

The following images were taken in late afternoon in Northhumberland Street, Belfast.

St George's Market Belfast

I pass St George's Market every day when travelling into Belfast city centre, but have never ventured inside the market.  On Friday and Saturday each week the market is buzzing with activity so I decided to venture inside one Saturday morning.  St George’s Market is one of Belfast’s oldest attractions. It was built between 1890 and 1896 and is one of the best markets in the UK and Ireland.  It has been voted for numerous local and national titles and awards for its fresh, local produce and great atmosphere.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz.  Following heavy German bombing of Belfast on Easter Tuesday 1941, St George’s Market was used as an emergency mortuary. Some 700 people were killed during the raids with 255 bodies brought to the market for identification. 


The following photographs followed from my short visit.

Our Ulster Plantation Castles

Northern Ireland is blessed to have many historical sites which visitors to the Province can enjoy.  This short blog will concentrate on two sites in Co Fermanagh which draw their influence from Scotland.

Co Fermanagh in particular has some fine examples of plantation castles, the photographs below feature Monea Castle, which dates from 1616 when Rector of Devenish, Rev'd Malcolm Hamilton.

The second castle is Tully Castle, a fortified house with a rectangular bawn dating from 1619.  I hope you will agree that both are well worth a visit.  These photographs were originally commissioned for a publication produced by the Ulster Scots Community Network.

Ulster Photography is available to undertake commissioned work, with particular interest in historical and cultural aspects of Ulster history.