NI Archive – Telling Our Stories

Introducing the...
Northern Ireland
Community Archive

Discover the stories of communities across Northern Ireland
Coleraine 400

For years Coleraine has held a crucial place in the history of the island of
Ireland.
In the early 17th century the town was key to King James I's Plantation and
as such a fortified town was built on this ancient site situated on the River
Bann.
King James I issues Coleraine with its Town Charter on 28th June 1613. This
Charter allowed the town to hold markets, trade with the world through its
port and send representatives to Parliament.
Renowned Archaeologist, Nick Brannon, has contributed much of what we
know of Coleraine's 17th-century history through his excavations. Join him
on this 360 virtual tour to discover the history and artefacts that he has
revealed.
PEACE IV
Understanding Our Area.
People and Places.

Understanding Our Area – People and Places was a cross-community project
supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme.

It set out to increase the understanding and expression of our culture and history,
our people and places, through museum collections, historic sites and cultural
heritage using interpretation, arts and multimedia to create a peace building legacy.
Salmon.
An incredible creature.
An incredible prize.

Big, tasty, easy to catch (in the right place, at the right time).
The salmon fishery was a key industry,
a way of life and a public attraction for many centuries.
Now it is gone.
400 years after the
Plantation of Ulster, its
legacy still divides us.

The Plantation made huge changes to our landscape, society
and culture, but new discoveries are being made in the Causeway
area that challenge our ideas.
Belfast owes its
existence to the sea
and the river Lagan.

Growing up around the lowest crossing point of the river,
the town became the connection between a vibrant hinterland
and wider worlds across the seas. Belfast is still a maritime city,
though the modern ships and its rich history need to be sought out.
Sam Henry

Sam Henry, a local Coleraine man, was a vibrant member of the community
involved in the church, societies, clubs, and becoming a councillor.
His interests included genealogy, folklore and folk music, poetry, bird watching,
archaeology and photography among others.

Peace IV

Causeway Salmon

Plantation — Rewriting the Story

Maritime Belfast

Sam Henry

Welcome to the Northern Ireland Community Archive

ABOUT THE ARCHIVE

The Northern Ireland Community Archive is a collection of tourist trails, museum collections, photographs, exhibitions, oral testimonies and other information from local museums and community groups.

HOW TO USE THE ARCHIVE

If you are new to our website and would like to know how to navigate the various sections please Click here.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ARCHIVE?

We're adding to the archive continually, and we'd love to hear from you!

For more information or to get involved contact:
cms@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk
(028) 2766 0230

WHERE WE ARE

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Museum Services,
1 Townhead Street
Ballymoney, BT53 6BE,
(028) 2766 0230
cms@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

VISIT US

Ballycastle Museum

Ballymoney Museum

Coleraine Museum

Green Lane Museum

Limavady Museum

ACCESSIBILITY

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Museum Services are always trying to improve accessibility to our museum venues. For more details, please Click here.

PLANNING A VISIT?

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WHAT'S NEW?

Uncharted Histories: Free Heritage Resources for the Causeway Coast

Are you a heritage business? A tour guide? A student or teacher? Or a member of a community heritage group? Then make sure to download the […]

Muslim prayer mat

Global Voices – Reflections on a prayer mat

After visiting the Ulster Museum’s Inclusive Global Histories gallery, members of the Causeway Multicultural Forum chose a Muslim prayer mat as an item from the national […]

Uncharted Histories Exhibition Panels

The Uncharted Histories of the Causeway Coast Exhibition explored the lesser known histories of the Causeway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Download the exhibition […]

Photograph of Green Lane Museum

Roe Valley Ancestral Researchers at Green Lane Museum

On Friday 7th April 2023 the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Ivor Wallace, joined volunteers from Roe Valley Ancestral Researchers and staff […]

The History of Irish Showbands Touring and Recording in Ulster – Ivan McAleese Oral History Interview – Cliff Ledger Trio and Green Cross Showband – Audio and Analysis