New addition

Our recent addition to our Queen Elizabeth II platinum jubilee mural.
You would have seen these discs at various entrances to estates within the borough. At the time of the Jubilee we came up with the idea to use one as they would normally just be disregarded after the celebrations. Sadly at the time of planning we would never have thought a few months later we would lose her Majesty. We within the Rathcoole estate along with our fellow British subjects across the UK, the Commonwealth and the World still mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an extraordinary Stateswoman and our Queen for 70 years.
We will continue to celebrate a life well lived and continue to admire her strong commitment to the service of our country. We are also thankful for her dedication and work in support of civil society throughout her long reign. A big thank you to Ben Mallon and the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough for facilitating this.
 

New addition at Row on Row

The new addition to our Rathcoole Row on Row site is complete.
A beautiful hand crafted personalised memorial bench. The bench has been placed in at Row on Row to commemorate the many men, women and children who died during the world wars and more recent conflicts.
It provides a quiet space to sit and reflect and the community are most welcome to use it.
A huge thank you to Belfast Metal Design and the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough for their help.
 

Thank you

Great news folks. We raised a grand total of £420.75 for the Northern Ireland Poppy Appeal at Rathcoole Row on Row.
Our target will be larger for next year and we thank everyone who donated.
 

No smoke without Fire

 “Folklore, Superstitions and Strange Goings On”
Author Dr. David Hume talks about and reads extracts from
his new book “No Smoke without Fire”
with stories from across East Antrim and beyond
Venue: The White House, Whiteabbey
Date: December 12, 2022
Time: 7.30pm
Dare you attend? 

Carnmoney War Graves

Our final day of our week of remembrance seen us walk around War Graves in our local Carnmoney Cemetery.
Our original plan was to lay a cross at each of the 18 known 36th Ulster Division fatalities interred here. As the day went on we laid a further 34 crosses at various graves of individuals who lost their lives during the world wars. We would have went on had it not for running out of crosses but we tried our utmost to cover as many as humanly possible.
Commemoration bridges the divide between aching individual grief and a wider community sense of loss. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Remembrance Sunday tomorrow wherever you may be.
 

Carnmoney War Graves

Just a reminder folks. Our final day of our week of remembrance is today and sees a walk around War Graves in our local Carnmoney Cemetery.

Did you know there are 18 known 36th Ulster Division fatalities interred here? This is open to the public to attend at 10am, meeting at the cenotaph in the West section.

Wreath laying

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we held a 2 minutes silence and wreath laying ceremony at Abbeydene House, Whiteabbey.
A house built in 1850 that boasts quite a history including visitors ranging from United states President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Field Marshal Montgomery and Lord Edward Carson to more recent times the singer Daniel O’Donnell.
One previous owner, Ulster Unionist Councillor Sir Crawford McCullagh, bought the house in 1915. He was also the Lord Mayor of Belfast for three terms which makes him a record breaking longest-serving lord mayor in the UK who went on to be knighted in 1918. He was the instigator of the five minute silence of remembrance in 1916 which went on to be the minutes silence used worldwide at times of remembrance. In July 12, 1916, Lord Mayor McCullagh had asked that all business, courts and traffic in the city come to a halt between noon and 12.05pm in honour of the dead Ulster soldiers of the Great War. Silence echoed through the streets of Belfast as a result of his request. This marked the occasion of our visit. We layed a wreath followed by a minutes silence.
He was commemorated with a blue plaque in 2016. The house is now a Bed and Breakfast owned by lovely hosts, Tim and Ethy Clifford.

Abbeydene House

Folks just a reminder. Today in our week of remembrance sees a wreath laying ceremony at Abbeydene House, Whiteabbey.
Did you know a previous owner, Sir Crawford McCullagh, was the instigator of the five minute silence of remembrance which went on to be the minutes silence used worldwide?
This is open to the public to attend at 10:45am. If you require more info please contact Rosemary Bell-McCracken.

Carol Walker lecture

Yesterday evening we hosted a discussion on the Red Hand, Shamrock and World Wars at the Whitehouse with Carol Walker MBE.
Carol is the director of the The Somme Association & Somme Museum and has worked tirelessly over the past 30 years contributing to commemoration.
A very informative and enjoyable discussion and one we would highly recommend.

Rathcoole Row on Row Northern Ireland World Article

https://www.northernirelandworld.com/news/people/rathcoole-community-pays-tribute-to-war-fallen-3913980?fbclid=IwAR0bdK8ZfMRwd8AswOeB-xAY6HYK6iHtQZinMHN5IQhr9SHOkmRLxEoIsqE