Saturday pics of the week

Pics 1, 2 and 3 by John Patton 

Pic  1                                                                  Pic 2

                  Pic 3

1. Old Clonmany Church: Established allegedly by Colmcille, the old Church at Straid became Anglican, following the Reformation.  Since the Established Church had so few parishioners, these graves are mainly the graves of the Catholic community, priests and laity, who continued to use the graveyard even after the opening of the Catholic Chapel in Clonmany. Local people regarded this as hallowed ground. Among the family names in the graveyard is Chichester-Clark , one of whom married a local girl called O’Neill. This may go some way to explaining the origins of Captain Terence. A committee, under the guidance of Marius Harkin, is trying to have the building restored.
2. View across to Toraigh Island from Machaire Rabhartaigh: In an area where splendid seascapes abound, I particularly like this one.
3. Both sides of the Foyle: Taken from the site of the former TermonBacca Home which is now a Carmelite Retreat House. A Mass as Gaeilge is celebrated there every Sunday for the thriving Irish-speaking community in Derry.

Pic 4  is by Liam Ó Cuinn

                            Pic 4 

“Tullaghogue (Tulach Óg) fort near Cookstown was the inauguration site for the Uí Néíll during their reign in Ulster. Recently a large amount of funding has been invested in the area with the provision of signage, paths and interpretative maps. This is not yet complete but already the Nazi thought-police, who are ever on the lookout for any dilution of their Britishness, have defaced the welcome signs at the entrance. No doubt this will be dismissed as the work of foolish adolescents but where do they learn this hatred? Over to you, ex-President of Ireland.”

Pics 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are by Antrim Lens

Pic 5

Pic 6

Pic 7                                                              Pic 8

Pic 9                                                               Pic 10 

“I’m lucky to live only 10 minutes from Portmore Lough, so I thought I’d send you a few photos from this great place. Pic 5 is of the wild Konik ponies that freely roam the fields around the lough. Pic 6: I took this photo from the bird hide as I watched this Buzzard hunt along the fence line and then kill a wading bird. Pic 7 is a mixed flock of Golden Plover and Lapwing wading in the shallows. Pic 8 Is a real treat for me as Marsh Harriers are very rare in Ireland, so to have this female Marsh Harrier on my local patch is just fantastic. Portmore Lough is only 30 minutes from Belfast and well worth a visit so maybe I’ll see some of you up there. Pics 9 and 10 show the view across the lough towards Divis mountain.”