Portballintrae Visit

Seaport Lodge (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020)

Portballintrae is a pretty village on the north County Antrim coast, within a few miles of the famous Giant's Causeway.

The village of Bushmills is inland, a mile or so from Portballintrae, on the River Bush.

When I was twelve years old, in 1972, we spent a few days at the Beach Hotel, which stood at a picturesque little bay named after the Salmon Rock.

The Beach Hotel, image from a picture postcard

I have happy memories of our times there.

The hotel was demolished several decades ago for a new apartment block called, I think, the Beach Apartments.

Today Portballintrae has one hotel, a boat club, a nine-hole golf club, and a small shop and village hall at the main car-park.

I spent a few days at Portballintrae this week. After breakfast, I usually strolled past the cliffs, with their sand martins dashing in and out, to Seaport Lodge, probably the oldest building in the village, which was built about 1770.

The Lodge is a handsome building, presently being restored by its owner.

The white paint which formerly covered the stone has been stripped away, revealing the fine craftsmanship.

The building work now seems to be focussed on the interior.

Dunseverick Harbour (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020)

The next morning I drove along the coast to Dunseverick Harbour, a charming haven far from the madding crowd.

A winding, narrow road leads down to it, and the prospect is spectacular.

The National Trust owns part of the coast here, a spot equidistant from Portbraddan and Dunseverick Castle, popular with ramblers.

When I stopped off at the Castle (or its site; only the ruinous gate lodge remains) there were two tents there.

Lamb Cutlets at Ramore (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020)

In the evening I went to the popular and busy Ramore Harbour restaurant for dinner.

Portrush Harbour from Ramore (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020)

THE next day I went for a walk from Portballintrae to Runkerry, a distance of about two miles, where the little narrow-gauge railway begins for Bushmills.

Giant's Causeway Railway (Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020)

It wasn't operating on Thursday, though the verges of the railway line have been trimmed and cut very recently, so perhaps it will reopen imminently.

(Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020)

On my way home I paid a visit to Bushmills Garden Centre, where I encountered a young fox.

House of Brownlow

The first member of this family to settle in Ulster was

JOHN BROWNLOW, of Nottingham, who offered himself as an undertaker, at the barony of Oneilland, County Armagh, during the plantation.

His son,

SIR WILLIAM BROWNLOW (1591-1661), of Brownlows Derry, County Armagh, born at Epworth, Derbyshire, settled in Ulster, and was knighted, 1622, by Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland, Lord Deputy of Ireland.

Sir William, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1623, was granted 1,000 acres of land by JAMES I, close to the southern shore of Lough Neagh.

He married Eleanor, daughter of Sir John O'Doherty, of Londonderry, by whom he had several daughters, the eldest of whom,

LETTICE, married Patrick Chamberlain, of County Louth, and had issue,

ARTHUR CHAMBERLAIN (1645-1711), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1668-9,  who assumed the arms and name of BROWNLOW.

He wedded Jane, daughter of Sir Standish Hartstonge Bt, of Hereford, and of Bruff, County Limerick.

Mr Brownlow was succeeded by his son and heir,

WILLIAM BROWNLOW (1683-1739), of Lurgan, County Armagh, MP for Armagh County, 1711-39, who married, in 1712, the Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, eldest daughter of James, 6th Earl of Abercorn, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Jane; Elizabeth; Anne; Mary; Isabella.

Mr Brownlow was succeeded by his son,

THE RT HON WILLIAM BROWNLOW (1726-94), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1750, MP for Armagh County, 1753-94, who espoused firstly, in 1754, Judith Letitia, daughter of the Very Rev Charles Meredyth, Dean of Ardfert, of Newtown, County Meath, and had issue,

William, dsp;
CHARLES, his heir;
Arthur;
Letitia.

He married secondly, in 1765, Catherine, third daughter of Roger Hall, of Mount Hall, County Down, and had issue,

James;
Henry;
Francis (Rev);
Catherine; Elizabeth; Isabella; Frances Letitia; Mary Anne; Selina; Louisa.

Mr Brownlow was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL CHARLES BROWNLOW (1757-1822), of Lurgan, who wedded, in 1785, Caroline, daughter of Benjamin Ashe, of Bath, and had issue,

William (1787-1813);
CHARLES, of whom hereafter;
John (Rev);
Frederick;
George;
Henry;
Isabella; Anna; Mary.

Colonel Brownlow was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

CHARLES (1795-1847), who wedded firstly, in 1822, the Lady Mary Bligh, daughter of John, 4th Earl of Darnley, and had issue,

Clara Anne Jane;
Mary Elizabeth.

He espoused secondly, in 1828, Jane, daughter of Roderick Macneill, of Barra, and had issue,

CHARLES, his successor.

Mr Brownlow, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1834, was elevated to the peerage, in 1839, in the dignity of BARON LURGAN, of Lurgan, County Armagh.

His lordship was succeeded by his son,

CHARLES, 2nd Baron (1831-82), KP,  who married, in 1853, Emily Anne, daughter of John, 3rd Baron Kilmaine, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
Louisa Helene; Isabella.

His lordship was appointed a Knight of St Patrick in 1864.

• Charles Brownlow, 2nd Baron Lurgan (1831–82);

• William Brownlow, 3rd Baron Lurgan (1858–1937);

• William George Edward Brownlow, 4th Baron Lurgan (1902–84);

• John Desmond Cavendish Brownlow, 5th Baron Lurgan (1911–91).

I have written about Brownlow House and the Barons Lurgan here.

The Brownlow Papers are deposited at PRONI. 

First published in February, 2012.

Fermanagh DLs

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS

The Viscount Brookeborough KG, Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh, has been pleased to appoint:-

Mrs Jennifer Hannah Irvine
Irvinestown
County Fermanagh


Mrs Jenifer Alison Johnston
Enniskillen
County Fermanagh


Mr Jisbinder Singh Sembhi
Derrylin
County Fermanagh


To be Deputy Lieutenants of the County, their Commissions bearing date, the 29th day of June, 2020.

Lord Lieutenant of the County

Carrick-a-Rede

It has been five years since I visited Northern Ireland’s legendary rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede, near Ballintoy, County Antrim.

It was at that time, March, 2015, that I lost a dental crown at the car-park when chewing a fruit pastille.

The rope bridge has become a mecca for tourists and travellers alike.

The bridge is made from planks between cables and robust rope handrails.

Salmon fishermen crossed from the cliffs - a sea chasm of 100 feet - to their fishery cottage on Carrick Island.

The bridge was formerly assembled in May and dismantled in September, though it now opens for longer.

On the island the fishing boats were hoisted and lowered by derricks.

Ballintoy and Carrick-a-Rede were granted to Archibald Stewart in 1625 by Randal, 1st Earl of Antrim, for the annual rent of £9. 

This grant included Sheep Island and the isle of Portcampbell.

The National Trust acquired 56 acres of the property in 1967 from Frank Gailey and Iris Bushell.

The prospect is truly spectacular.

The Weighbridge Tearoom serves light lunches and refreshments:

I enjoyed a bowl of piping-hot leek & potato soup, with a thick slice of fresh wheaten bread.

Hillsborough Forest

Hillsborough Fort. Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020

Hillsborough, County Down, is undoubtedly one of the pleasantest and most interesting villages in Northern Ireland.

It has been ages since I last paid Hillsborough Forest a visit, so I wasn't disappointed today.

Hillsborough Forest Lake. Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020

The Fort, former home of the Hills, Earls of Hillsborough and Marquesses of Downshire, stands overlooking the lake in the forest.

It seems to be in good order, and the old stone steps leading down through the undergrowth towards the parish church can still be seen.

The church and fort are adjacent to each other.

It was a joy to see so many young families with their toddlers and children enjoying the forest walks and the swans, geese, and ducks feeding at the edge of the lake.

Today I walked around its circumference, then out through the gates, via Park Lane, to the Square; and down the main street to the junction where the parish church can be seen from its long avenue.

Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020

The statue of Arthur, 4th Marquess of Downshire, KP, faces the church directly from across the road.

The town-houses on the hilly main street, with their courtyards and mews, are simply charming; as are the little artisan shops and gastro-bars.

Image: Timothy Ferres, 2020

At the top of the main street, on the Square, stands the old court-house, which itself stands opposite the main entrance to Hillsborough Castle, former home of the Downshires, then the Governors of Northern Ireland, Royalty, and Secretaries of State.

Fermanagh DL

APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT

The Viscount Brookeborough KG, Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh, has been pleased to appoint:-

Mrs Catherine Mary Maguire
Lisnarick
County Fermanagh

To be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, her Commission bearing date, the 29th June, 2020.

Lord Lieutenant of the County