Lead The Way Tour - Carrickfergus

23/04/2025

Interesting presentation by Mir, preluding his new book. Mir is a former US Ranger, and respected author. A well-researched and intriguing book out soon.

Mir has visited Carrickfergus a few times, and references that in the video.

WW2TV - Paul Woodadge Wartime Northern Ireland Northern Ireland War Memorial Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

The Houdini Club: The Epic Journey and Daring Escapes of the First Army Rangers of WWIIWith Mir Bahmanyar Part of our Individual Heroes of WW2 serieshttps://...

18/04/2025

Very proud to be invited to help with the Carrickfergus Celebrations. Getting a chance to work on my hometown's events means a lot to me on a personal level.

My late mum, who was a young girl in the Occupied Netherlands during the war, remembered the absolute joy associated with liberation. She never forgot the sacrifices made to achieve that.

Mid and East Antrim to honour 80th anniversary of VE Day with Borough-wide celebrations

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has unveiled a memorable programme of events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, with activities taking place across the Borough throughout May 2025.

The celebrations will honour the historic significance of VE Day whilst providing entertainment for all ages, with a particular focus on educating younger generations about World War II.

The commemorations will begin on 1 May with ‘Wartime Reflections’ at Larne Museum and Arts Centre from 2pm to 4pm. The event will feature Northern Ireland Screen footage from the war years, a local author presenting the short story ‘The Day the Yanks Dropped in’ based on true events and a special presentation on ‘Animals at War’.

On 3 May, the Andrew Jackson Centre and US Rangers Museum at Boneybefore will host a day of VE80 commemorations from 11am to 4pm, featuring talks on wartime themes and musical entertainment. Among those taking part will be Larne School of Highland Dance, while the story of a local nurse – Martye Adair, who saw service in the jungles of Burma – will be retold by Rhiannon Campbell and Sharon Dickson plus Geoff Hatt will be looking at the Belfast Blitz and providing songs from the era. There will be talks on US troops in Northern Ireland, the Belgian army being raised here, and Poland, Northern Ireland and the war.

The main VE80 celebrations will take place on 8 May with spectacular ‘Beacons of Freedom’ events at three locations across the Borough:

🔹 From 7pm, People's Park in Ballymena will feature performances by the Swing Gals, Antrim and Derry Fiddlers, Magheramorne Silver Band, Geraldine Donnelly dancers and children's entertainment.
🔹 Carrickfergus Town Hall and War Memorial Gardens will host Third Carrickfergus Band, Zolene and the ALS Band, Campbell College Pipe Band, Sir Henry Inglesbys Fife and Drum, alongside a children's magic show, facepainting and storytelling. A parade from Carrickfergus Town Hall to the War Memorial Gardens will precede the lighting of the Beacon of Freedom at 9.30pm.
🔹 Curran Park in Larne will welcome Kellswater Flute Band, Larne Harbour Accordion Band, Easy Jazz, storytelling, a children's magic show, facepainting and community tables. A parade from Larne Harbour front to Curran Park will begin at 7.30pm, symbolising the wartime role of the port.

The programme continues on 10 May with a special children's event at the Andrew Jackson Centre, where author and illustrator Ellan Rankin will tell ‘The Secret Elephant’ story about a Belfast zookeeper who brought an elephant home each night to protect it from bombing raids. Rankin will also lead an arts workshop where children can create their own bookmarks. Places are limited and booking is essential via Ticketsource: https://orlo.uk/Gc4Fv

In addition, on 10 May, Carrickfergus Museum and Carrickfergus Historical Society are putting on a VE event not to be missed! To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe day, join everyone at Carrickfergus Town Hall for a day demonstrations, displays, workshops, talks, games, music and dancing!

For more information T: 028 9335 8241 or E: [email protected]

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman William McCaughey said: “As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, it is important that we come together as a community to remember those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. This significant milestone provides an opportunity not only to reflect on our shared history but also to strengthen the civic bonds that unite us. I encourage citizens of all ages to participate in these commemorative events and help ensure that the lessons and legacy of World War II are preserved for future generations.”

Additionally, the Council has commissioned a bespoke VE80 colouring book featuring artwork by local artist Louis Humphrey, depicting sites across the Borough associated with the wartime period, including Dunaird Camp at Broughshane, Sunnylands camp in Carrickfergus, Larne naval base and others. Following the popularity of previous Council colouring books for NI 100, the Jubilee and the Coronation, this commemorative edition will be available at all VE80 events.

For RSVP and more information about the events on 1 & 3 May, please contact [email protected]

For further information visit https://orlo.uk/ljJeX

09/04/2025

What a great group of boys and girls to take on a short stroll. They were very interested, and knowledgeable, about the Home Front during the Second World War, asking some really good questions. Interesting to hear them talk about family members who had lived during the war.

08/04/2025

Hard to imagine the scale of devastation inflicted on Belfast..

03/04/2025

A fantastic experience today, working in collaboration with Carrickfergus Museum to deliver a Second World War themed walking tour to complement the presentation and display of exhibits in the museum.

Almost 60 boys and girls from Greystone and St. Joseph's Primary Schools who travelled from Antrim, many dressed as Evacuees!

So many amazing questions and comments from the Year 4 pupils. Kept me on my toes!

Thanks, too, for the patience of pedestrians and road users as we meandered around the town.

01/04/2025

Edward V Loustalot. An original US Ranger, activated in Carrickfergus in June 1942. Killed in action at Dieppe on 19 August the same year. First American soldier to lose his life on the European mainland in the Second World War. Remembered and respected in Dieppe to this day.

Us Rangers Edward V.Loustalot
We’ll never Forget
Loustalot commémoration in Arudy - Pyrénées Mountains

31/03/2025

On the first day of April 1944, the Littlewoods (Barn Mills) factory in Carrickfergus was tasked with designing a deception para-dummy to lure German troops away from the beaches of Normandy on Operation Overlord (D-Day).

This early prototype was submitted, and although it was agreed that the silhouette, from a distance, would indeed attract attention, it was eventually decided to ditch this version and run with something which presented more of a threat.

A photo of the final type of paradummy used on D-Day is shown in the comments.

28/03/2025

Dates for your diary!

Commemoration events in France for the first American soldier to be killed in Action in the European mainland in the Second World War.

One of the original US Rangers, activated in Carrickfergus just two months before his death.

21/03/2025

Something a bit different, and a conversation starter.

"What does Rumbeke mean, and what's the connection with Carrickfergus?"

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the new Belgian Army. 3rd (Rumbeke) Infantry Brigade formed in 1945, undergoing training in Northern Ireland. D...

24/02/2025

A Rangers Journey - Historical Talk
Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Museum
13 March 2025
7pm – 9pm

Join Adrian Hack from Lead the Way tours at Andrew Jackson Cottage for the fifth part of our historical talks programme. The 1st Battalion US Rangers was activated in Carrickfergus on 19 June 1942. Exactly two months later, some of them became the first US troops to see active service on mainland Europe.

This talk will share the story of one of those Rangers, a Corporal who made military history.

Booking is essential as places are limited, light refreshments will be served.

20/02/2025

🛳 𝐌𝐢𝐝 & 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 - 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞 🚗
Tourism clusters were set up as part of TNI cluster development programmes in 2015. With funding through Invest NI’s Collaborative Growth Programme, CEO of Carrickfergus Enterprise, Kelli McRoberts secured the facilitator role. She assisted over 140 tourism providers across three council areas scope out how best to encourage a wider tourism market to the area and enhance its popularity as a visitor destination. Working with them to Identify possible collaboration opportunities as well as looking at best practice in other destinations in Ireland and UK mainland. Due to several circumstances the cluster has not been able to meet, yet connecting and networking is even more crucial today.
Today Tourism is bouncing back! Do you want to be part of this journey?
This event has been adapted following two successful Go Succeed Tourism PSN meet ups hosted in Carrickfergus and Ballymena, which you may have attended.
Kelli McRoberts will host this networking event to allow attendees to tell us what they need and the challenges they face. We want to gain feedback to the possibility of restarting the tourism cluster in Mid and East Antrim to take advantage of the ‘slow tourism’ appeal of the Causeway Coastal Route. Encouraging local businesses to develop a range of itineraries to entice visitors to the area, increasing their dwell time and spend. Collaboration will be key to showcase the many hidden gems the area has to offer. We will also hear from a Northern Ireland tourism cluster who have achieved success and learn from their experience. Representatives from Mid and East Antrim Council and Tourism Northern Ireland will also share how they can support you to start, grow and develop your tourism business.
Registration instructions: This event is free for individuals. Please note, your email confirmation and eTicket will come from [email protected], please add this to your list of trusted accounts to prevent information landing in your junk folder.
You will not want to miss this, register here https://tourismnetwork.glistrr.com/e/721
Please note as this is an in-person event, the registration numbers for this are restricted.
𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘰 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘕𝘐, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘮 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢.

18/02/2025

Make do and Mend workshop!

If you've been on my Tour, you'll know I briefly cover this as part of the Clothing rationing introduced during the Second World War. This will give a much more practical insight. I might pop along to observe.

Booking essential for the workshop.

🧶🧵 Make and Mend Workshop 🧵🧶

📌US Rangers Museum, Carrickfergus
📆 22 March 2025
🕔 12noon – 2pm

Join us this March when our resident crafter Mary will demonstrate and teach some mending skills handed down through the generations, which were essential for making clothing last through the war.

No crafting experience necessary, light refreshments provided.

💷 Cost £5 per person

👉🏻 Pre-booked and pre-paid essential to guarantee place!

☎ To secure you place please contact: Carrickfergus Castle Visitor Information Centre on T: 028 9335 8262 or E: [email protected]

03/02/2025

This looks interesting.....

Flare Path: a line of little points of light on the ground used to guide pilots during take-off and landing.

Terence Rattigan drew on his own experiences as an air gunner in the RAF to write his play Flare Path in 1941.

When this story of 3 couples, set against the backdrop of wartime uncertainty, opened in London in August 1942, it became an immediate box-office success.

Flare Path paints an evocative portrait of life in wartime Britain and the battle between individual desire and collective duty.

Don’t miss it!

See below for ticket details or contact [email protected] to join our mailing list.

01/02/2025

This presentation on WW2TV - Paul Woodadge opens your eyes to British Tank evolution from mid 1930s to the end of the Second World War. Not all about biggest gun, thickest armour or most powerful engine. Absolutely fascinating!

Understanding British Tank DevelopmentWith P.M KnightPart of our Tanks and Armoured Vehicles serieshttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDG3XyxGI5lAAxI1dtlL7TK...