About Ballinascreen Historical Society

In the autumn of 1979, Ballinascreen Credit Union decided to sponsor a written quiz on local history.  Pat Loughrey, then a teacher in St. Colm’s High School in Draperstown, was asked to compile the questions.  The quiz leaflet was delivered to every house in the parish and, as well as the questions, it contained promotional material for the Credit Union.  In due course, entries were received at the Credit Union office, winners were chosen and a prize-giving was arranged for early December at McAllister’s lounge bar at Straw.  At the prize-giving Pat Loughrey met a few other people who shared an interest in the past.  The idea of forming a society was first mooted.

Meetings of a steering committee were held in the Credit Union office, in High Street, on the evenings of 13 Dec and 17 Dec.  Those present contacted others who might have been interested, until about a dozen people had shown an interest.  We decided to seek advice on the formation of a society and contacted the Federation for Ulster Local Studies in the person of Dr. Brian Turner.  Not only did he advise but, with Annesley Malley, actually came to a meeting of our steering committee, at which a draft constitution was formulated.

A public meeting was held on Friday 25 January 1980 at which lectures were given by Rev. F. Fawcett and Rev. Fr. K. McKenna, both authorities on the history of their churches in the parish.  A general meeting was called (Mon. 25 Feb. 1980) which was made more attractive by being preceded by a concert of local poetry and song, hosted by “Barney McCool”.  A committee of eleven was elected and offices were taken up at the first committee meeting (Thurs. 28 Feb. 1980).

From that time on, monthly events were planned, trips took place, research was carried out and books were published.