Category Archives: Beautiful Ulster

Randalstown Churches

The Old Congregation Presbyterian Church

This historic building dates back to 1655, when a presbyterian congregation was founded on the site on the Portglenone Road; that building replaced in 1790, at a cost of £600. On the hill behind the OC Church is the St Brigid’s Church of Ireland Church, Drumaul Parish.

I’ve been trying for years (literally!) to get a photograph of this building – and I’ve been thwarted in the past by parked cars in the lay-by in front of the church, so when I was passingly a few days ago, and saw it carless, I did a quick u-turn and got the camera out before someone parked!

Photographed with the Nikon F100, on Ilford FP4 ISO125.

Stepping Back in Time…

The Ballymacarrett Train Crash

Looking back to a 1945 tragedy, the Ballymacarrett rail crash. This mural is painted on the gable of ‘Claires’ in Dee Street, East Belfast. Photographed with the Nikon FM3a on Ilford HP5 film, ISO100.

New Year’s Eve at the North Coast

New Year’s Eve

31st December 2021 was the warmest New Year’s Even since records began, with some parts of Northern Ireland reaching 14 degrees Celsius. That’s warm for this part of the world! People were getting out and about, and no more so that at Portstewart, on the North Coast.

Continue reading New Year’s Eve at the North Coast

Ballymartin Road, Templepatrick.

This is Ballymartin Road, Templepatrick,Co.Antrim, around 6pm this evening. I was travelling along the road, on my way to speak at Templepatrick Reformed Church, and as I turned right, I habitually, looked in my mirror (remember, – Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre). It was then I noticed that the deep red sunset was reflecting on the rain soaked road. I can’t resist a shot like this, and I had the Fujifilm X-T3 in the boot.

I pulled over to the side and got out of the car to frame the shot, when suddenly a kind gentleman from the house at the side of the road appeared in the vewfinder, – out to find out if I was in some trouble! After all, it’s not often a car suddenly stops and a man stands out in the pouring rain!

Fujifilm X-T3, F=22mm, f/4 @ 1/250th sec on ISO800