The show

Well I am back at this blogging thing, I forgot my password, and to be honest even forgot I had a blog. I was surfing tonight when I came across my old blog and to my surprise discover that I had quite a few folk had looked at the blog. So here goes.

Saturday the 3rd August is show day in the Plum. This was a day I once looked forward to with great hope and anticipation. It was a thrill to pick up a red ticket, and can still recall the years we managed to win the red, white and blue ribbon. My views today might have changed somewhat, but it is still a great day out. Reading in last Saturdays farming life, a press release advised us that this was the 80th show. This would suggest that first show was  first held in 1933,  I found that a little strange, as I recalling reading an article and seeing and old advert for Glenelly  show in 1922 some ten years earlier. The farming life article mentioned the Plum show was in its 80th year, and this might be the problem. The show started its life further up the Glenelly in Cranagh, and until this year was always called the Glenelly Show.
No doubt tomorrow will see some great sheep and thankfully some great cattle. While its nice to see outsiders coming and supporting the show, I feel it's important to encourage local people to participate.

In recent years the Glenelly show has saw a revamp with cattle classes, tug o war, stalls, bouncy castles  and the YFC all good additions to the show. I hope it gets a decent day tomorrow.
If your in the Plum on show day, make sure you drop in to Presbyterian tea stall for a drap o tae and a wee tray bake. Or a burger and coke.

Glenelly our home

I must congratulate the Glenelly Historical Society for their excellent face book page Glenelly our Home. The site which has been profiled by the BBC Newsline programme offers a simple opportunity for the community to find out more about the Glenelly valley and the history of this interesting place.

Photographs of old houses some of them just a pile of stones are put on the face book site These photographs bring back memories of families long gone and have created a link with folk from all over the world. In recent weeks some family photographs are starting to appear, creating further discussion and links.

I have just one negative comment. The Society has run a number of gatherings for specific townlands in St Peter's Primary School in Plumbridge, all of which have been on a Sunday. These events provide a further opportunity to explore townlands, old photographs and give further detail on families who once and still live there.While this might seem petty to some. I would love to have attended the gatherings which were relevant to the townlands I have an interest in but not on a Sunday.

That said well done Glenelly Historical Society, I would encourage anyone who might read this to have a look at the Glenelly our Home Face Book page.

2012

So much for blogging in 2011 but as we start a new year perhaps I will get on to blogging and having my say on things that matter or perhaps on things that don't matter.

2012 is going to be a very interesting year with the Queens Diamond Jubilee, the London Olypics and the Black Saturday in the Plum for the first time since 1958 that 54 years ago.

So as we start out on 2012 a guid new yeir ta all

The snow snaps

Some Blackie ewes with Mullaghcarbatagh in the background

Bessy Bell and the setting sun

The Rumbling Rocks on the Glenelly River in early December

The Snow

Its been quite a while since I had a chance to look at my blog and I simply lost interest. But with the new year approaching I might spend more time developing this blog.

It approx -15 degree outside with deep snow lying since last Friday. I don't think I ever seen as much snow fall in on one day as on Friday, with over 1 foot falling within just a few hours.
Everything has been so quiet over the last few days as folk seem to stay at home, especially with the roads so bad. I did get a chance to take a few photographs of the Glenelly in the grip of winter.

We haven't seen a postman since  last Thursday, and with Christmas fast approaching I think there might be a slight panic in this household before this week is over.

The Arch

I am a member of Mourne Valley Cultural Assocation, based in Newtownstewart. In 2009 we obtained funding from Strabane District Council through the Local Community Fund for a new Orange Arch for Newtownstewart.

The Arch will be errected in Newtownstewart to celebrate this years 12th July and will be part of the Newtownstewart Orangefest celebrations.

I hope to have some pictures of the Arch in the near future and share with you my work in developing and delivering the Orangefest celebrations in Newtownstewart.

I believe it could be as many as sixty years since there was an Orange Arch in Newtownstewart. This has been an interesting and challanging project which will highlight the cultural and religious heritage of the Orange Order.

My First Blog

This is my first blog, i have been so impressed by a number of other blogs so I have plucked up the courage to start my own.

Over time I hope to explore my interests which include, my family, my faith, farming, the countryside, local history, Ulster Scots, the loyal orders, the pipe band, and many more issues.

The last twelve months have been difficult for me due to ill health. I hope I can use this blog as a way of making a record of who I am, what I care about, and what makes me tick.

It might take me a while to get started but I hope over time to get the hang of this blogging thing.

All the best

The Plum Man