Sunday 22 September 2019

Portballintrae Visit

Seaport Lodge, September, 2019

Earlier in the week I spent several days in the seaside resort of Portballintrae, County Antrim.

This coastal village, near Bushmills, has always been popular, with its delightful sandy bays, Bushfoot Strand, the little harbour, and its general location on the Causeway Coast.

We used to spend weekends here at the Beach Hotel with friends.

Alas, that hotel was demolished many years ago and has been replaced with modern apartments.

The Bayview Hotel, however, remains; not the original building, which was also demolished ages ago.

I spent two agreeable evenings in the lounge bar of the Bayview, contented with my iPad and headphones.

Catch of the Day at the Bayview Hotel

On the first evening I had a bar meal comprising a blue cheese and beetroot salad, followed by the "Catch of the Day": smoked cod, mashed potato, spinach, surrounded by a creamy sauce.

This food was delicious.

Thereafter I removed to a banquette-style seat near the front door and Reception.

I have acquired a pair of state-of-the-art noise-cancelling headphones, Bluetooth (wireless), which cut out virtually all outside noise except whatever you're listening to on the iPad or other device.

Quite remarkable technology.

The next morning I paid a brief visit to Coleraine, one of my favourite towns.

On the way home, I made a small detour to Bushmills Garden Centre, a few miles outside the village itself.

For some inexplicable reason I've developed an interest in gardening, albeit on a modest scale.

I was on the look-out for a plant that likes dry conditions and the garden centre was promoting Sedums.


I'm apprised that this variety thrives in sunshine and doesn't mind dry conditions, so a spot between two thirsty trees in the border ought to satiate it.

I chose a lovely Sedum Spectabile "Brilliant".

When I purchased it there was a bee eating the nectar, adhering to it like a magnet.

It refused to budge (lest it had discovered the irresistible Belmont bouquet), so some gentle persuasion was required, viz. some of the Belmont blowing.

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After breakfast one morning I strolled the short distance to Seaport Lodge, once the maritime residence of the Leslies.

Seaport Lodge commands one of the finest prospects in Portballintrae, with its little private harbour.

Unfortunately it has lain derelict for many years, though the owner is finally restoring it as I write.

Seafood Thermidor

The next evening I motored into Portrush, past the celebrated Royal Portrush Golf Club, to the harbour, where I had the Seafood Thermidor at Ramore Wine Bar.

I rather like the Ramore complex, which has several different bars and restaurants.

Just do not expect the conventional type of restaurant where you can reserve a table in advance, order at the table, and await service.

At Ramore wine bar you are shown to a clearly numbered table, peruse the menu, and walk up to the bar counter where they ask for your number, take your order, and you settle the account there and then.

This unconventional system works very well for Ramore and I find it perfectly acceptable.

During my break in Portballintrae the weather was mostly sunny, dry and quite warm, something I took full advantage of.

Perma-tan Belmont.

*

THE French Rooms is a charming restaurant in the centre of Bushmills, just along the street from the Inn.

Their opening hours vary, and at the time of writing dinner is only served on Friday and Saturday evenings; so I was fortunate to get my favourite (and lucky) Table Eight.

The last time I was seated at Table Eight an unknown American couple paid for my meal (unknown to me, because they had paid for it and departed some time before I'd finished my meal).

For this happy reason Mrs Bolton recognized me instantly and greeted my like an old pal.

Perhaps they ought to re-name Table Eight "Lord Belmont's Table".


For dinner I had the goat's cheese, served in a little, tied paper parcel on a wooden platter, with home-made chutney, lemongrass-infused olive oil, and rustic bread.

The main course consisted of sea-bass, garlic cubed fries, and beetroot gratin.

Needless to say, it was all delicious and superb; beautifully presented, too.


After dinner I repaired to the Bushmills Inn, ordered a beverage, and settled down at a small table with the iPad and headphones.

The next morning it was time to pack up, tidy up, and motor back home to the Belmont GHQ.

Saturday 21 September 2019

New Vice Lord-Lieutenant

APPOINTMENT OF VICE LORD-LIEUTENANT


Mr David McCorkell, Lord-Lieutenant of Country Antrim, with approval of Her Majesty The Queen, has been pleased to appoint:-
Mrs Miranda Gay GORDON DL
Muckamore
County Antrim
Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the said County, her Commission bearing date, the 17th day of September, 2019.

Thursday 12 September 2019

Echlinville Apples

I spent an absolutely delightful day at Island Taggart on Wednesday, 11th September, 2019.

There were thirteen of us, National Trust volunteers; so we were ferried out to the 85-acre island in three or four sailings.

Taggart is a mere hop, skip and jump from the mainland; in fact it's almost opposite Simmy Island.

We picked fruit from the old Echlinville apple tree in the original orchard beside the derelict farmhouse at the top of the island.

Or, rather, obtained it by a degree of agitation with a long wooden pole.

The tree is quite large.

We also tidied around the apple and pear trees of the new orchard, in a small field near the said farmhouse.

It can be exposed here, so we erected wooden poles and supports for several of the small trees which had bent over due to the strength of the wind.

At lunchtime I picked some blackberries and, with three apples, the intention is to make an apple and blackberry crumble.

Saturday 7 September 2019

18th Century Enniskillen

Photo Credit: The National Trust

A fine painting of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, in the 18th century.

It was painted ca 1780-95.

The Castle dominates the painting, and the spire of St Anne's parish church (now St Macartan's Cathedral) is prominent, too.

Enniskillen is the county town of County Fermanagh, and literally an island town.

For centuries two bridges connected Enniskillen to the mainland (aren't there three now?).

Thursday 5 September 2019

1st Baron Athlumney

THE BARONS ATHLUMNEY WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY MEATH, WITH 10,213 ACRES


This is a branch of the very eminent Scottish family of SOMERVILLE.

The first of the family that settled in Ireland was

JAMES SOMERVILLE, of Tullykelter, County Fermanagh, who died in 1642.

His grandson,

THOMAS SOMERVILLE, a merchant of Dublin, married Sarah, sister of Alderman Robert King, of that city; and dying in 1718, left an only son,

SIR JAMES SOMERVILLE (c1698-1748), Knight, Alderman and Lord Mayor of Dublin, who was created a baronet in 1748, designated of Somerville, County Meath.

He wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Alderman William Quayle, of the same city, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR QUAILE SOMERVILLE, 2nd Baronet (1714-72), of Brownstown, County Meath, who espoused firstly, Mary, only daughter and heiress of George Warburton, by whom he had three sons.

He married a second time, and had an only daughter, Martha, who wedded Gustavus, 5th Viscount Boyne.

Sir Quaile was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JAMES QUAILE SOMERVILLE, 3rd Baronet (c1742-c1802), of Somerville House, County Meath, who married, in 1771, Catherine, daughter of Sir Marcus Lowther-Crofton Bt, of The Moat, County Roscommon, by whom he had two sons, Marcus and James.

Sir James was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR MARCUS SOMERVILLE, 4th Baronet (1772-1831), MP for County Meath, 1800, who married Mary Anne, daughter of Sir Richard Gorges-Meredyth Bt, and had issue,
WILLIAM MEREDYTH, his successor;
James Richard, lieutenant, Scots Greys.
Sir Marcus's elder son, 

THE RT HON SIR WILLIAM MEREDYTH SOMERVILLE, 5th Baronet (1802-73, was elevated to the peerage, in 1863, in the dignity of BARON ATHLUMNEY, of Somerville and Dollarstown, County Meath.

He married firstly, in 1832, the Lady Maria Harriet Conyngham, second daughter of Henry, 1st Marquess Conyngham, and had issue,
William Henry Marcus, died in infancy;
Elizabeth Jane.
His lordship wedded secondly, in 1860, Maria Georgiana Elizabeth, only daughter of Herbert George Jones, and had further numerous issue, including
JAMES HERBERT GUSTAVUS MEREDYTH, his successor;
Marcus Edward Francis Meredyth (1867-71).
His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

JAMES HERBERT GUSTAVUS MEREDYTH, 2nd Baron (1865-1929), who married, in 1919, Margery, daughter of Henry Boan, of Australia, though the marriage was without issue, and the titles expired.

Somerville House was inherited by Sir Quentin Charles Agnew-Somerville, 2nd Baronet (1929-2010), nephew by marriage of James, 2nd Baron Athlumney and 6th Somerville Baronet.

Somerville House, County Meath

First published in 2012.