Kearney Visit

I've spent a glorious day at the National Trust's 19th century fishing village of Kearney, County Down.

It is not far from the tip of the Ards Peninsula.

Portaferry, due west, is the closest town.

The sun shone all day and temperatures must surely have been close to 20c.

There were about ten of us today.

We were painting traditional County Down gates.

At lunch-time we settled at a pleasant spot on the shore and basked in the sunshine.

Judicial Appointment

THE QUEEN has been pleased to approve that the honour of Knighthood be conferred upon Adrian George Patrick Colton, QC, on his appointment as a Justice of the High Court.

The Hon Mr Justice Colton was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1983, and took Silk in 2006.

Mystery House

Do any readers recognize this house?

The image shows a wedding party with members of the Silcock family.

The Silcock residence was once Marybrook House, near Crossgar, County Down.

Warrenpoint House

Do any readers recognize this house?

It is or was located near Warrenpoint, County Down.

McCutcheon's Field Day

Groomsport from McCutcheon's Field

I've spent the day with other National Trust volunteers at a place known as McCutcheon's Field.

This comprises several acres of coastline at Brigg's Rocks, close to Sandeel Bay, in north County Down.

There's a static caravan park here called Windsor Holiday Park.

This field is close to Groomsport.

Today we were gathering gorse bushes and burning them.

There were about eight of us today.

Graymount Visit

As part of the Heritage Open Days weekend, today I visited Graymount House, Greencastle, County Antrim (on the outskirts of Belfast).

I've already written an article about Graymount here.

ON the way home I drove via Belfast's Titanic Quarter, where I stopped at the old light cruiser HMS Caroline.

Ostensibly there is little sign of restoration being undertaken, though perhaps it's more likely that work is progressing on the interior of the historic vessel.

A very large super-tanker, Santa Regina, was berthed across the harbour.

Connswater Progress

Work is continuing along the river Conn's Water, which runs through the heart of east Belfast.

These images were taken at King George V playing-field, adjacent to The Oval, Glentoran Football Club's pitch, and Victoria Park.