Making Memories in Mid and East Antrim
Tuesday 27 May 2025
From 2 – 7 June, Mid and East Borough Council museums service plus participating partners, are offering a wide range of events showcasing the impressive industrial heritage that surrounds the Borough.
Now in its seventh year, Mid and East Antrim Industrial Heritage Week has provided various talks and tours that have revealed a sometimes-hidden history to new audiences.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey, said:
“Back in 2018, Council ran a participatory theatre project to mark the Year of Culture called ‘Shaped by Industry, Shared with Pride’ funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
“Since then, we have remained inspired to encourage local people and visitors to come to our very special part of the world to learn more about our rich industrial past.
“I would like to thank our partners Whitehead Railway Museum and the Heritage Hub at Carnlough Town Hall for taking part.
“We are of course very proud of our significant advanced engineering and other highly skilled manufacturing sectors that continue to be important to the prosperity of Mid and East Antrim today.”
During Mid and East Antrim Industrial Heritage Week, Larne Museum and Arts Centre will have a display of photographs, records and other material on loan telling the story of Curran Saw Mills which operated in the town from 1927 until the 1990s. This exhibition is supported by two special talks specific to the industry in the local area.
On Thursday 5 June, Dr David Hume who will give a talk entitled, ‘Saints, Scholars and Cement’. The talk focuses on the history of Magheramorne - linked to the limestone industry with the Ballylig Quarry operating as far back as the 1780s. The quarry brought prosperity to the area in the 19th and 20th century and the modern history of Magheramorne is closely tied to employment on the land and at the quarry. A wider social history of the Magheramorne through the centuries will also be discussed.
Then, on Friday 6 June, Mary Watson, from Carnlough Heritage Hub will give an illustrated talk ‘Frances Anne Vane Tempest, Marchioness of Londonderry: 19th Century Entrepreneur, Industrialist and Influencer’.
Frances Anne, Marchioness of Londonderry, was a very successful business manager who played an important role in the development of Carnlough and the north-east of England.
Both talks at Larne Museum and Arts Centre are from 7.30pm to 9pm and are free, however places are limited and should be booked in advance by contacting Larne Museum and Arts Centre on T: 028 2826 2443 or E: marian.kelso@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.
Also on Friday 6 June, experienced guide, Alastair Donaghy will lead ‘Lisnafillan: Bleach Works to Coach Works’. This is a guided walking tour from The Braid, Ballymena, travelling by minibus to Galgorm. The tour will cover over 200 years of manufacturing with local linen families such as the Youngs and the Gihons, as well as the later Gallahers works.
The half day tour will start at 10am and finish at approximately 1.30pm. Tickets are £8 each. Prior booking on-line through our event listing or call Mid-Antrim Museum on T: 028 2563 5029.
Whitehead Railway Museum will also host special Industrial Heritage Week conducted tours on 5, 6 and 7 June at 10.30am, 12noon and 2pm. Ticket costs for the museum tour - £9 adults, £6 children and £25 for a family of two adults and three children.
Tickets can be pre-booked through the Whitehead Railway Museum website.
In addition, Whitehead Railway Museum are producing a short video entitled, ‘Drains and Trains, the key role of ballast’ that will be on their website from 2 June.