'Stories of our ancestors' four day festival gets underway

by Gráinne Connolly

A four day festival celebrating the history and mythology of The Glens of Antrim will get underway later. 

Community Archeology Festival 'The Stories of Our Ancestors' is taking place this weekend Thursday 17th-Sunday 10th in the Glens of Antrim.

It has been organised by the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust through the Heart of The Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme, in partnership with Queen's University Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork.

Over the past four years, the same partnership has run a wide range of events including four community archeological digs, a wide number of historical tours and a range of education programmes with local schools.

This event is the culmination of this work. 

Some of the highlights over the weekend includes, a public lecture from Cormac McSparrron from Queen’s University on community archaeology excavations, in addition to drone and laser surveying at Culfeightrin Old Church.

Colm Donnelly will launch his Medieval Glens history booklet followed by the launch of Mythology of the Glens booklet by Thomas McErlean. 

Thomas will also present a guided tour of Garron Tower, one of the great hidden jewels of the Glens where we will discover its fascinating history. 

Many archaeological and geological features of Garron Point will be uncovered in the process, including the early medieval promontory fort of Dunmaul.

It will all be concluded with a talk by Tom McNeill focusing on the castles and dynasties of the Glens.