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Slemish
by Charlotte Rainey (P6 St Mary's
Primary School, Ballymena)
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'St Patrick'
by Charlotte Rainey P.6 |
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St Patrick stayed on Slemish for six long years because
he was captured and brought to Ireland as a slave by
Niall of the Nine Hostages. There he was sold to a farmer
called Meliuc, who made him a shepherd.
When he was lonely he'd pray to God. So every St Patrick's
Day lots of people climb Slemish as a tradition in memory
of St Patrick's lonely life there. Many tourists still
come from all over the world to see this wonderful mountain
and some will even attempt to climb it.
Slemish used to be a volcano, but that was a long time
ago and it hasn't erupted yet. I think it closed over
hundreds of years ago so it's completely dormant.
I live quite near to Slemish and around my part it
is a beautiful sight. When you climb it you can see
Scotland and if it's not misty you might see far beyond
that. On very clear days you can see five counties.
Some farmers from surrounding areas still keep their
sheep on Slemish. It is ideal because of the rough grasses
and ground.
The Irish name for Slemish is Sliabh Mish.
by Karl Connon (P6 St Mary's Primary School,
Ballymena)
I know a bit about Slemish because I live near it.
From my point of view I think it is a good mountain
to climb and good to make a camp to stay overnight in.
About two centuries ago Slemish used to erupt and you
know what that means, yes it was a volcano. Hot melting
lava came out and poured over the land. My teacher Mr
Kearney told us that when lava comes out of the volcano
and it clears up, the grass is very fertile.
There was a Saint called Patrick who lived on Slemish.
Every year on St Patrick's Day everybody would climb
it and sit on the chair that Saint Patrick sat on.
From my mind I recommend Slemish as the best mountain
in County Antrim. If any of you have been up climbing
Slemish it is very rocky and you have to get past the
rocks to get to the top of it.
I like Slemish the best because I want it to be there
till the day I die.
Have you ever climbed Slemish? Can you see it from
where you live? Do you have any stories about the mountain
and the people who have been associated with it? What
does Slemish mean to you?
Share your comments and thoughts with others by either
e-mailing "Your Place & mine" at ypam-online@bbc.co.uk
or posting your remarks directly yourself
at the bottom of the page.
St Mary's P6 pupils are obviously proud of where they
live. Pick a tower and click on it to read more of their
contributions....
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YOUR RESPONSES
Janet Morrow - Apr '07
I remember at Easter rolling hard-boiled eggs (dyed yellow
with whin blossom) down the wee road that led around Slemish.
This was usually a family outing with my mum who drove us
there, my granda (William McConnell Greer) directing and my
grannie (Jeannie Greer), my brother John, cousin Billy and
myself in the backseat. Magical times when you could roll
an egg down the middle of a road and no traffic. We also used
to lie in the middle of the road at Carncombe where my Uncle
Charlie & Aunt Martha lived, the sound of a car engine
could be heard from far enough & gave you enough time
to get off the road into the sheugh. Try doing that today!
My mother (Muriel) used to tell us that when she was young
only one or two people had cars then. Thankyou for such an
interesting site that can bring back such great memories!!
Janet Greer Morrow (nee Campbell) March 2007
Charlotte - Mar '07
I'm Charlotte the girl that wrote the article on slemish who
is now in 4th year at St Louis Grammar....couldn't believe
it when i realised it was stil there....best class ever only
12 of us...now at skul with 6 of them...2 of them still my
best mates....and have been since p.1. I'm still living up
near Slemish and climb it every St Patricks Day as it is a
strong tradition in my family. I would stongly recommend to
anybody thinking about coming to Ballymena to visit Slemish
as it is one of the most amazing historical parts of Northern
Ireland. =D
Lee Joseph Evans - Feb '07
I think from my reseach that this could be the hidden place
for the ark of Covenant due to so much evidence that points
to the fact that when it dissapeares from history.All of a
sudden myths of all sorts of things joined to the ten tribes
of moses and a box of gold at the end of a rainbow appear
in folk law.And there must be sum fire if there's smoke.I
think that these tribes spread to wales and scotland. And
that is why there is some deep rooted conection between the
three and all three are like the green hilled promised land
that everyone knows the ten tribes searched so long for. I
think that St Patrick comes from the word patriarch HEAD OF
CLAN. Maybe this head was Jeremiah the one i think brought
the Ark from Jeruslem to hide it from the Romans in somewhere
in 500bc. That would mean that celtic roots lay with the word
of God and that the Romans were searching for the ark when
they came to the British isles and thats why the celts would
not be defeted. My search continues for some proof.
Paul and Judith Ironmonger - April '06
3rd April 2006
We love Slemish. Today is our 7th Wedding Anniversary On July
30th 1998 I climbed Slemish and asked my now wife if she would
marry me. She said yes!
We returned in August 2004 and carried our first child, David,
to the top when he was 11 months old. Our daughter Ruth has
yet to encouter Slemish!
We will return to Slemish again to enjoy the rugged beauty.
Kelly Orr - July '05
These children are no longer children. These stories were
written 4 years ago and i had the great pleasure of knowing
them. Their class was of high standard. These stories of Ballymena
needed to be told again through the eyes of a child because
what a child sees is more real than what an adult sees. I
smiled when i read these stories to see that Ballymena hasn't
been forgotten and is still alive in people's hearts and it
gives me great pleasure to say that i am very proud to live
in Ballymena. When i went on holiday to Germany with my friends
we met two lads who asked us where we were from and they had
no idea were Ballymena was until we told them Northern Ireland.
They were from Dorset, i'll give them that, but i think everybody
should know where Ballymena is. I mean we take the time to
know where everywhere else is including Dorset. Thank you.
Siobhan Mitchell - March '05
How great to see and hear about my old home town through the
eyes of the next generation. Having left Ballymena 17 years
ago, as a 'young lass', I will be returning to get married
at the end of May, and have found these stories necessary
to be retold and reread at our wedding!
I always delight in trying to educate others of the stories,
intrigue and nostalgia of my home town and the surrounding
fantastic scenery - the children have certainly prompted me
to smile and think of home and have made my husband to laugh
extremely hard. We are using the seven towers theme and local
scenery e.g. Slemish as the theme for our wedding tables.
Well done to everyone who has researched with their parents
and families to rediscover some of the old tales from the
city of the seven towers.
Reply from Pat Hanna (nee Armstrong), November 2004:
Congratulations to the children who researched and
produced this site.I feel nostalgic as I read it.Although
I live only"a bit down the road",I don't get to
visit my home town very often.I remember the Pennybridge well
and in my mind's eye I see the little cottages,although I
don't remember anyone who lived there.As I was born and bred
in Harryville,so a walk out the Larne Rd.was popular,especially
on warm summer evenings.On one such walk I recall seeing Mr.Greave
sitting by the bridge sketching.He was the Art master at the
old Tech.school.I wonder if any of his pictures are around?
I have lovely memories of climbing Slemish,first as a teenager,cycling
out from home,then in later years with my husband,children
and other members of our family,usually on Easter Monday.By
then we went by car!
I hope the children will grow up having good memories of their
childhood days,which they will remember for the rest of their
lives.
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