(Not Quite) A Daily Photo from Coleraine

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T21:15:00.000Z

Ramore Head, Portrush.

Bigger than yours...?

2011-09-25T20:12:00.003+01:00

Limavady Council area is Coleraine's neighbour to the West.

This sign is on the opposite side of the road from the Coleraine one.
Given the size of the sign, it seems there's a bit of macho posturing going on.

And, in the summer, there are flowers around the base of theirs...

Marking the Boundary

2011-09-23T21:26:00.004+01:00

Every local council likes to mark its' territory - and Coleraine is no exception. These signs have been erected on all the main roads where you cross into the Borough.

This sign is on the A37 Coleraine - Limavady road.

La Roche sur Yon, with which Coleraine has been twinned since 1980, is a town in Western France.

Coleraine Borough Council is one of twenty-six local councils in Northern Ireland. These are the councils which were set up in 1973 when local government was reorganised.
Proposals currently exist to reduce the number to eleven.

Coleraine

2011-09-22T20:08:00.004+01:00

Coleraine is a town situated close to the North Coast of Northern Ireland.
In the 2001 Census (2011's figures aren't available yet) the population of the town was just over 24,000.
The headquarters of Coleraine Borough Council is situated in the town. The population of the Council area was estimated at 57,000 in 2008.

The Council area includes the small coastal towns of Portrush and Portstewart, with Garvagh and Kilrea being inland. The villages of Portballintrae and Castlerock lie on the coast, while Macosquin and Articlave are inland.

The photographs in this blog will all be taken within the Borough Council area. Coleraine town will feature most prominently.

My intention is to produce a photographic record of the local area.
Although this blog began back in 2009, some editing will be carried out on old posts - so this can be considered a new beginning.

Back...?

2011-09-20T21:11:00.003+01:00

Perhaps I'm back.

I've a long list of excuses for my absence. And one very good reason.

My grand-daughter - three last month - takes up time at the week-end. Time I'm happy to give to her. But not a lot of spare minutes left for photography.

No photo to-day. I think there should be a few changes to the blog first.

Last of the Snow...?

2010-12-26T16:29:00.003Z

This is the path which runs alongside the Bann from the town to the Cutts at Castleroe. The photo was taken on Friday afternoon.

To-day the thaw has begun. The temperature is just above freezing, sleet is falling...

Frozen

2010-12-25T12:42:00.003Z

The River Bann has frozen over. A rare occurance, but to be expected after over a week with temperatures continuously well below zero.

Happy Christmas!!

The Diamond

2010-12-22T22:29:00.002Z

How part of The Diamond, Coleraine looked last Saturday. And it's still much the same to-day.

Picturesque?

2010-12-21T22:10:00.004Z

A view of Christie Park and the River Bann.

Yes, it is picturesque. When everything is covered by snow it's very beautiful. But we rarely get heavy snow in Northern Ireland - or in the rest of Ireland, or the UK, for that matter.
So when snow arrives we find it difficult to cope, especially when it is accompanied by record low temperatures.
The daytime temperature has been around minus 10 Centigrade, to-night it's forecast to be as low as minus 20 in places.
As a result, even the main roads remain snow-covered. The salted grit spread on them doesn't seem to be very effective at such low temperatures.
For many schools the Christmas break has come several days early. It's difficult to get to work. Christmas shopping has become a struggle for everyone. - which will give the shops an even greater struggle to survive.
People needing to travel to spend the holiday with their families are finding airports closed, flights cancelled.

Yes, snow is beautiful. But when it doesn't melt within a few hours of falling, life just falls apart.

Killowen Parish Church

2010-12-19T20:26:00.003Z

Properly known as St John the Evangelist, this is the Church of Ireland church at Killowen - just across the river from Coleraine town centre.

Christmas Tree

2010-12-18T20:02:00.004Z

It's unusual for Coleraine's Christmas Tree to be weighed down with snow.

But, for the second time in two weeks, we've had an exceptionally heavy fall - apparently the worst for twenty-five years .
The first snow was gone in a few days. This time, with daytime temperatures well below freezing, there's a good chance it will still be here at Christmas.

Chimneys?

2010-09-14T20:12:00.004+01:00

Last time I said the Spanboard factory was 'mothballed'. Over the last couple of days the chimneys have been dismantled. To-day they're gone.

When I took the last photo, I didn't realise it would record the end of an era. Those chimneys have been a feature of the local skyline since 1959.
Originally smaller, they gained height over the years as changes in legislation forced the company to emit smoke and dust higher in the air.

Chimneys

2010-09-03T21:40:00.002+01:00

We've had beautiful weather for the last few days - much better than most of July and August.

The photo is a view up the River Bann, upstream of Coleraine. The chimneys in the background belong to a factory called Spanboard.
Opened in 1959, Spanboard manufactured chipboard until last year when the plant was mothballed as a result of the recession.

I hope 'mothballed' isn't a euphemism for 'closed down for good'.

Evening in Portballintrae

2010-09-01T21:51:00.002+01:00

I haven't been blogging for over four months now. Long, clear evenings keep me away from my computer. But as summer comes to an end, it's time for a new start.

The photo above was taken this evening in Portballintrae - which is at the eastern end of the Coleraine Borough Council area.

Scrapyard

2010-04-22T19:40:00.004+01:00

Like many towns, Coleraine has a scrapyard where various types of old metal are collected for recycling.

Scrap metal was being recycled many years before being green became fashionable.
This particular yard is operated by T-Met.

In this photo, the River Bann is in the foreground, with St Patrick's church in the distance.

Daffodils

2010-04-20T19:17:00.003+01:00

At last the daffodils are in full bloom.

The building in the background is Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart.

Exposed Rocks

2010-04-16T22:15:00.002+01:00

Back to Castlerock - and away from the main beach.

This area is only exposed when there is an unusually low tide. Inishowen can, once again, be seen in the distance.

Volcanic Sunset?

2010-04-15T22:30:00.002+01:00

Due to the cloud of ash drifting down from the volcano erupting in Iceland, we were promised a spectacular sunset...

Although the sunset must be poor consolation to the many thousands of people unable to travel to-day, due to the closure of all UK and Irish airports. No flights will be allowed until at least 1.00pm to-morrow. This cloud of volcanic ash has also affected flights and airports in most other Northern European countries.

The photo was taken from Strand Road, Portstewart looking towards the Inishowen Peninsula.

Ocean

2010-04-14T22:42:00.001+01:00

A glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean from the beach at Castlerock.

Barry's Amusements

2010-04-12T22:42:00.004+01:00

Established back in 1925, Barry's Amusements in Portrush still remains popular with visitors keen to experience the thrills of the Big Dipper or the Freak Out.

Spring Sunshine

2010-04-11T22:20:00.005+01:00

It's been a long, hard winter in this part of the world, but we've had a beautiful week-end to finish the Easter holidays.
To-morrow the children are back to school and all those lucky people who've been on holiday all week return to work.

The photo shows the West Strand at Portrush this afternoon. A couple of days of sunshine and people think summer's arrived!

St. Patrick

2010-03-17T19:15:00.003Z

St. Patrick's Church, Coleraine seen from Circular Road, with part of Anderson Park in the foreground.

A Church of Ireland building, this church opened its' doors in 1885. Over the centuries, a number of churches have been built at this particular place.

It is said that St. Patrick himself founded the first church which occupied the site.

Anderson Park

2010-03-04T22:43:00.002Z

We've had cold, sunny weather for almost a week now. Perhaps winter is almost over.

This is a view of Anderson Park in Coleraine - seen from Circular Road, looking towards Union Street.

By the way, one of my friends, Maggie, is having a March giveaway on her blog. Check the blog out here.

Mussenden Temple

2010-02-11T18:56:00.002Z

The Mussenden Temple, seen from Downhill. Perched on the edge of the cliff, the Temple is approximately 120 feet above the sea.

Built in 1785 by Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol (known as the Earl Bishop), the Temple is part of Downhill Demesne. It was inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome. Used as a summer library, the Temple was dedicated to the memory of the Earl Bishop's cousin, Frideswide Mussenden.

Now in the care of the National Trust, the Temple can be hired for civil wedding ceremonies.

At the bottom of the cliff, below the Temple, the entrance to a tunnel on the Belfast to Derry railway line is just visible.

Town

2010-02-09T20:17:00.003Z

Back to Coleraine!

This is looking from Lower Captain Street, across the Bann Bridge, towards the town centre.
The Town Hall and St Patrick's Church are in the background.

Mist

2010-01-16T20:50:00.002Z

Taken to the west of Dunluce Castle, a little closer to Portrush.

Castle, Again

2010-01-11T21:18:00.001Z

Dunluce Castle seen from the opposite side to the last view.

Castle

2010-01-08T23:10:00.002Z

Move a little to the right of my previous photo and Dunluce Castle comes into view.

It is believed that the first castle at Dunluce was constructed in the 1200's.
The ruins shown here were abandoned around 1690 and are currently in the care of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Sea and Cloud

2010-01-07T22:14:00.003Z

Taken this afternoon just off the main road from Portrush to Bushmills, Co Antrim.

Calm

2010-01-03T23:12:00.001Z

Calm sea on a cold day in Portstewart.
Taken from the Prom, with the harbour entrance in the background.

Fog

2010-01-02T19:25:00.003Z

Taken on a cold, foggy day last week, this is part of Anderson Park, Coleraine.

Walking

2009-12-28T19:27:00.004Z

By yesterday afternoon all the snow had disappeared from Portrush. It's only a few miles down the road from Coleraine, but it was like a different country.
Below is a view of the East Strand. Apparently a popular place for walking off all the Christmas excesses.

A closer look - from further down the beach - at the headland seen above.

And, coming back to the car park, this is part of Portrush.

Snowy Beach

2009-12-26T19:19:00.003Z

Castlerock Beach to-day. We had more snow yesterday evening and it was cold enough for it to lie on the beach.
Above is looking towards the Barmouth.
Below, looking back towards Castlerock.

Winter

2009-12-24T18:56:00.005Z

These are winter scenes taken, this afternoon, close to Englishtown Presbyterian Church, just off the Coleraine to Garvagh road.
For the last couple of days the daytime temperature has been around minus 3 or 4 Centigrade. Unusually cold for this part of the world.

Happy Christmas everyone!!!

Partly Castlerock

2009-12-21T20:32:00.003Z

Following on from my last photo, this one is taken a little bit to the right. Which allows Castlerock to come into view.
The church spire is the one shown in my post "Moon Rising".

Because some snow fell on Saturday night, I'm including a picture of a farm laneway taken this afternoon outside Coleraine.

A2 - updated

2009-12-17T19:46:00.004Z

I did the A2 an injustice yesterday, by reducing its length considerably.

By complete coincidence I had to go to a meeting in Newry this morning. Newry is a small city right down in the south-eastern corner of Northern Ireland, about two hours drive from Coleraine.
While there, I noticed a road sign which said a certain road was the A2.

Alarm bells sounded more loudly than usual in my head (I have tinnitus, so I hear all sorts of sounds).

Yesterday's statement that the road went from Belfast to Derry was, unfortunately, an assumption. And for those who don't know the meaning of assume...it makes an ass of you and me.
So it's time to get some facts.

The A2 begins in Newry and follows the Co Down coast to Belfast before its journey to Derry. A distance, apparently, of some 239 miles.

The photo below was taken at yesterday's picnic site and shows the view to the west of Castlerock.

A2

2009-12-16T21:04:00.004Z

The A2 is the main coastal road from Belfast to Derry. It runs up the east coast and then along the north, usually keeping close to the sea.
A couple of years ago, as part of their efforts to promote tourism, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board decided to re-brand the road as the Causeway Coastal Route.
Regardless of what it's called, the road does pass through some beautiful scenery. But some places get by-passed.
The little village of Castlerock is one of those places.

There is a small lay-by and picnic site which overlooks the village. I stopped to take some photos of the view - and then noticed the picnic table.
So these photos are of the table and its' plaque.

By the way, the shape of the bushes behind the table shows the strength and direction of the prevailing wind.

I don't know who Hutchy was, but he chose a good place to sit during his relatively short life.

Lifeboat

2009-12-15T19:03:00.002Z

Following a training exercise on Sunday, the lifeboat manoeuvres back into position at its moorings in Portrush harbour.

Sunset across the Bay

2009-12-07T21:01:00.003Z

This was taken in Portstewart, looking across the bay towards the headland behind Castlerock.
Almost the opposite view from that in my last post.
The Inishowen Peninsula in Co. Donegal can be seen to the right of the photo.

Moon Rising

2009-11-30T20:12:00.006Z

This is the moon rising, this afternoon, above the spire of Christ Church, Castlerock.
This is a Church of Ireland - part of the Anglican communion - church, which was built in 1870.

Beyond the church is the Barmouth, where the River Bann enters the sea. Portstewart is along and around the first headland in the distance, while Portrush lies beyond the further headland.

Portstewart Promenade

2009-08-27T18:33:00.003+01:00

This is a view of The Promenade, Portstewart, looking to the left of the War Memorial shown in my last photo.

The town began life as a small fishing village which grew into a resort in the mid-1800's. The arrival of the railway in 1855 increased the popularity of the town, in spite of the station being built in the countryside a little over a mile away from the promenade, which was served by a steam tram.
The station was situated so far away because some local landowners would not allow the railway to cross their land.
Although the town has expanded over the years, the station is still surrounded by fields.

War Memorial, Portstewart

2009-08-03T19:35:00.002+01:00

Another view of the War Memorial on Portstewart Promenade.

War Memorial

2009-07-23T19:43:00.005+01:00

Every time I walk down Portstewart prom, past the War Memorial, I am reminded of a poem by Seamus Heaney.

The bronze soldier hitches a bronze cape
That crumples stiffly in imagined wind
No matter how the real winds buff and sweep
His sudden hunkering run, forever craned

Over Flanders. Helmet and haversack,
The gun's firm slope from butt to bayonet,
The loyal, fallen names on the embossed plaque -
It all meant little to the worried pet

I was in nineteen forty-six or seven,
Gripping my Aunt Mary by the hand
Along the Portstewart prom, then round the crescent
To thread the Castle Walk out to the strand.

Excerpt from "In Memoriam Francis Ledwidge..." Published in "Field Work" in 1979.

Another Sunset

2009-07-16T13:08:00.004+01:00

I'm a bit of a sucker for sunsets.

This one was taken yesterday evening from the Promenade at Portstewart. The sun is setting over the Atlantic Ocean, with the headlands of Co Donegal on the left and Portstewart Harbour wall on the right.

Sea Mist

2009-07-01T20:17:00.004+01:00

We've had warm, sunny weather through most of June. A change is forecast now, with heavy rain expected over the next few days.

The photo was taken this afternoon at Gortmore viewing point, high above Magilligan - which is west along the coast from Castlerock. A thick mist is flooding in from the sea.
Gortmore is perched on the edge of a cliff, about 900 feet above sea level, with spectacular views of the local countryside.

Temporary Absence

2009-06-12T22:31:00.004+01:00

I haven't been around for a while. Why?
Well, we've had good weather for the last couple of weeks - no rain, cool, but plenty of sunshine. Not blogging weather!!

At this time of year, with long clear evenings, I don't feel inclined to sit at the computer. I can find plenty to do outside...or I can go for a walk.

This photo was taken at 10.00pm yesterday evening on Castlerock beach.

While this one was taken at 11.30pm from the back of my house. When the sky is clear, it never really gets dark these summer nights.

I've got a lot of catching up to do with all the blogs I keep an eye on........

Evening Sun

2009-06-01T22:45:00.004+01:00

Another photo from last Thursday. This time it's looking back down the beach towards Castlerock.

To-day was even warmer than yesterday - around 25 or 26 Centigrade.
It's hard to work in such beautiful weather...

Fishermen

2009-05-31T22:35:00.003+01:00

This photo was taken on Castlerock Beach on Thursday evening.

After a long spell of miserable weather - cold, wet, windy - things began to improve on Thursday.
The week-end has seen temperatures up to 22 or 23 degrees Centigrade - hot for us!
The sun has been shining constantly. Perhaps this week-end is our summer...
So it was definitely barbeque time to-day.

Crowded Sign

2009-05-26T21:44:00.003+01:00

This road sign is at the crossroads shown in yesterday's photo.
The white lettering on a brown background means all the signs are tourist information.

A case of too much information??
Which would be easily missed by a fast driver...

Crossroads

2009-05-25T22:37:00.002+01:00

This is the crossroads with Cushy Glen's tree on the left.
The picture is taken looking towards Coleraine.

Cushy Glen

2009-05-20T20:27:00.002+01:00

The story of Cushy Glen has two alternative endings...
One says that he was shot by a traveller he was attempting to rob.
The other has him being captured and then hanged from the tree shown below.

The tree is at a crossroads on the A2 Coleraine to Limavady coastal road.
Approaching from Coleraine and turning right at the crossroads takes you to Castlerock and the beach which I showed a couple of weeks ago.

I don't know how much truth there is to the Cushy Glen tale, but the house on the right of the tree would know if he was hanged there.
It was built in 1691 - so it was already around 100 years old when Cushy was roaming the hills!

Highwayman

2009-05-19T21:10:00.002+01:00

Ballinrees Reservoir lies just off the B201 Coleraine to Limavady road.
The road, shown above, is known as the Windyhill Road. It was given this name in the early 1970's when postcodes were introduced in Northern Ireland.
Before postcodes, country roads rarely had names, as addresses were based on the townlands, the smallest units of land, into which Ireland was divided.

The Windyhill Road was an exception - it already had a name, which was obviously considered unsuitable for modern sensibilities. It was known as the Murderhole Road.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, this was the main road from Coleraine to Limavady. It passes through an isolated and mountainous area which, in the late 1700's and early 1800's, was frequented by highwaymen and gangs of outlaws.
The most notorious of these was a man called Cushy Glen, who allegedly murdered a number of travellers. His hideout was known as the murderhole...

Whins

2009-05-18T20:35:00.004+01:00

A corner of Ballinrees Reservoir with whin bushes in the background. Whins - otherwise known as gorse - are a common sight on poor quality land.
The bright yellow flowers, at their best from March to May, are always a cheerful sight on dull spring days.
They look good on bright, sunny days too!

Reservoir

2009-05-17T23:24:00.003+01:00

Ballinrees Reservoir is a couple of miles outside Coleraine.
We walked round it the week-end before last.

There are signs telling dog owners that their pet should be kept on a lead. I saw a number of dogs, all running free and most of them wet.
Just as well the water is treated before it arrives at our taps.

Sunset

2009-05-12T23:20:00.002+01:00

We've had several beautiful sunny days, so it's time for a sunset photo.

Taken from the back of my house.

Save Lives

2009-05-06T23:43:00.004+01:00

The Blood Transfusion Service was in Coleraine yesterday and to-day.
Their units visit towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland on a regular basis. They usually stay two days and run two donor sessions - one afternoon and one early evening - each day.
The sessions are usually held in church halls or in schools. In Coleraine, the Baptist church hall is used.

Each year there are over 75,000 donations but, as it says on the lorry, 94% of the population still don't give blood.
I'm sure few of that 94% would refuse a transfusion if they needed it...

Field

2009-05-05T19:28:00.003+01:00

Oilseed rape is not a crop native to Northern Ireland. Although it has been grown here for a number of years, it isn't a common sight.

So it's still something of a shock when you come across a bright yellow field.

May Day

2009-05-04T12:24:00.007+01:00

In the UK, the May Day public holiday is always the first Monday after 1st May. So, for most people, to-day was a holiday. But not for those who work in shops - a public holiday is a very important day for the retail trade, so not all workers are equal...
At the moment, of course, most people are just happy to have a job.

Away back at the beginning of this blog I mentioned that Christie Park was called after a local councillor and businessman.
The family business was Christies Ltd, which operated from the premises shown below.

After trading for almost 100 years, the business closed down a couple of weeks ago - another victim of the collapse of the building trade in Northern Ireland.
Thirteen people lost their jobs.

************

My father has been back in hospital since last Monday, which is the reason this is my first post for over a week

Church of Ireland

2009-04-25T20:38:00.005+01:00

Back with the same cherry tree.
This time the photo was taken from Hanover Place on the other side of the river.

The church is commonly known as Killowen Parish Church. It belongs to the Church of Ireland and is properly known as St John the Evangelist. The Church of Ireland is "a province of the Anglican Communion".

The top row of houses in the background are part of a large estate built by the local council in the late 1950's. The lower houses were built in the 1960's. This estate is known as 'The Heights'.

Pink Cherry Blossom

2009-04-24T22:05:00.003+01:00

This blog began life in Christie Park, Coleraine.
To-day I've gone back there to celebrate Spring. I couldn't let the season pass without at least one photo of pink cherry blossom.

The photo below is the same tree, taken from further down the park. There are a number of similar trees, but this one stands out best.

Pink cherry blossom is linked to a childhood memory of mine.
I was brought up in the country, on a farm. When I was at primary school, one of the highlights of the year was having a day off to accompany my parents to the main agricultural show in Northern Ireland. This was the Balmoral Show held in Belfast in the second half of May.
We always parked our car in the streets behind the showgrounds. This was a well-to-do area of Belfast, with large houses which had really big gardens. Many of the gardens had pink cherry trees just past full bloom. Cherry blossom blew along the footpaths and the roads.
The trees impressed me because, at home, no-one had trees like this. Such frivolous things had no place in our lives.

I've never planted a cherry tree in my own garden. But I admire them when they bloom in parks, or other people's gardens.....earlier each year, it seems.

Beach and Barmouth

2009-04-23T22:09:00.005+01:00

If you move out from my last photo and turn left, this is the view. Castlerock beach stretches out before you for close on a mile.
The village lies around five miles north-west of Coleraine. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 1,336. More houses and apartments have been built since then, but many of them are holiday homes. So the population probably hasn't changed much, although the village is now really a small town.
This beach ends at the rocks in the distance. Another one begins when you go round the headland.

If you turn right, the beach ends in a very short distance at the Barmouth. This is where the Bann runs into the ocean.
Castlerock Beach is really a continuation of Portstewart Strand - interrupted only by the river reaching the sea.
The Barmouth is at the far end of the Strand in the photo I posted on 8th April.

My next couple of posts will see me back in Coleraine, but I'll return to Castlerock shortly...

View

2009-04-19T22:40:00.003+01:00

Walk between the dunes shown in yesterday's photo and this is the view.

Castlerock beach and the Atlantic Ocean, with the Inishowen peninsula, in Co Donegal, in the background.

Blue Sky

2009-04-18T22:19:00.011+01:00

If you drop in here regularily, you'll know that the Bann is the river which flows through Coleraine.
To-day's photo was taken close to where the Bann reaches the sea. If you go up from the edge of the river, through the sandhills, you find yourself on Castlerock beach. But not to-day...

Old Bridge

2009-04-13T22:29:00.004+01:00

To-day was that rare thing, a dry Bank Holiday. So we went for a walk round part of the Roe Valley Country Park, near Limavady.

The photos are of a bridge which crosses the River Roe.

My father got out of hospital on Good Friday, so there may be more time for blogging.

Beach

2009-04-08T20:06:00.002+01:00

A quick shot of Portstewart Strand, taken during a brief walk last Sunday.

My father has been in hospital since early last week, so not much time for photos or blogging.

Time Change

2009-03-28T19:54:00.003Z

I said I was going to stay away from Coleraine for a few days, but then I remembered that the clocks go forward an hour to-night.
British Summer Time is about to begin.

To celebrate, I went to the Guy L Wilson Daffodil Garden in the grounds of the University of Ulster.
The strong winds of the last few days have done some damage, but the flowers aren't all in bloom yet.
I should get some more photos over the next week or so.

East Strand, Portrush

2009-03-16T22:20:00.003Z

A view of part of the East Strand at Portrush, which was quite busy yesterday.

This beach - also known as Curran Strand - stretches for about two miles (or around 4km) from Portrush to the White Rocks. The beach curves around Curran Point - in the middle distance on the right of the photo.
The area is popular for activities like surfing and bodyboarding.

It's a bracing and enjoyable walk to the White Rocks. We didn't walk it yesterday because we had our seven month old grand-daughter with us. We kept the buggy on hard surfaces.

Lower and Upper

2009-03-14T23:16:00.002Z

This is the view from under the bridge - looking upriver.

The river is correctly known as the Lower Bann. There is, of course, an Upper Bann. The latter is really a separate river which runs into Lough Neagh at its' southern end.
Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles.
As well as the Upper Bann, a number of other rivers run into it, but only one - the Lower Bann - runs out.
Because the Lower leaves from the northern end of the lough, while the Upper runs into the southern end, they are apparently treated as being the same river.

Graffiti

2009-03-13T22:22:00.005Z

By taking the lower path in yesterday's photo, I find myself going under Sandelford Bridge.
Which takes me out of Christie Park, into another of Coleraine's parks.

And, as you can see on the bridge, even a stretch of water can't stop a determined graffiti artist!

Weir

2009-03-10T21:04:00.006Z

What was hidden behind yesterday's gull?
The Salmon Leap at the Cutts on the river Bann. This rocky outcrop forms a natural weir across the river.
Salmon must negotiate this hurdle when they are returning from the ocean, to spawn in the rivers of their birth.

The weir is about a mile upstream from Coleraine. The river is tidal from the Atlantic Ocean up to this point - a distance of just over 5 miles, or around 9 kilometres.

Gull

2009-03-09T20:24:00.004Z

This gull got in the way of the picture I was planning to take, so it gets to appear first. You'll see the other photo to-morrow.

Like the last couple of photos, this one was taken with my new camera.
A week ago, Saturday, I was cursing the limitations of my little Nikon. My wife suggested I up-grade...never one to miss an opportunity, by that afternoon I had another camera.
It's a Canon PowerShot SX110IS.

Of course, on Monday when my computer died, I regretted my impulse purchase.
Well, I regretted it for at least ten seconds!!

Church

2009-03-08T23:35:00.003Z

This shot - taken in rather a hurry - is of the interior of Holy Trinity, Church of Ireland, church in Main Street, Portrush.

My grand-daughter was christened here to-day, so it's been a busy week-end.

History Lesson

2009-03-05T19:48:00.003Z

Centuries ago the island of Ireland was divided into units called counties. The number eventually settled at 32.
In 1921, when Ireland was divided, 26 of these counties formed what ultimately became the Republic of Ireland. The remaining 6 became Northern Ireland.
Those six are Antrim, Down, Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone and one with a name subject to dispute.

Back in 1585 the area between the River Bann and the River Foyle became a county. This area was to be administered from the town of Coleraine and was called Co. Coleraine.
In 1613, however, changes were made and the county was renamed. It became Co. Londonderry and the walled city of Londonderry was established on the west bank of the River Foyle. This new city took over from Coleraine as the county town.

It is the name "Londonderry" which is disputed.
The name used for the city or county often depends on the religious and/or political persuasion of the speaker.
Because Londonderry was the name given by an English government, it's commonly used by Protestants, who also tend to be Unionist in their politics.
Roman Catholics, on the other hand, almost invariably use the name "Derry". Politically they are usually Nationalists or Republicans. The more extreme Republicans want the name to revert to the original Irish, "Doire".
Despite the arguments, Londonderry remains the official name.

As for me? Well, regardless of politics or religion, I was born - and have lived almost all of my life - in Co. Derry.
In this blog I'll always refer to Derry...

Maps

2009-03-04T20:24:00.007Z

I haven't said very much about Coleraine yet.
Then arctic dreamer asked where the town might be found on a map.
So I decided to photograph some maps. The first shows the island of Ireland. Coleraine is close to the north coast in Northern Ireland.
For those not familiar with the politics of our island, the Republic of Ireland - or, "the South" -
is a separate country from Northern Ireland - or, "the North". We in the North are part of the United Kingdom.

The second photo shows more detail of the north-east of the island, while the third comes closer to Coleraine.

For the Coleraine area, both Google Earth and Google maps are worth a look, as they show the immediate area, including Portrush and Portstewart, quite clearly.

Sea

2009-02-25T21:58:00.003Z

I love the sound of the sea - in this case crashing against the rocks at Ramore Head in Portrush.
I like to walk along the beach as well, with the breakers rolling in from the ocean.

Fortunately, I have a choice of beaches from Portrush westwards along the coast.

I said my photos would be taken in the Coleraine area, but I think I can occasionally stray a few miles from the town...

Lifeboat

2009-02-24T19:13:00.005Z

On Sunday I said the outer part of Portrush Harbour was empty. That's not true, because the lifeboat is always there.

The RNLI have had a lifeboat in Portrush since 1860.
The boat pictured has only been here for around a year. The last boat - the Katie Hannan - was severely damaged in January 2008 when it was swept onto rocks on the coast of Rathlin Island.

You can find some details here.

Harbour

2009-02-22T20:02:00.004Z

It's the week-end, so I drove a few miles from Coleraine to a local seaside resort - Portrush.

Although I was brought up in the country, I really like the seaside.
A big advantage of living in the Coleraine area is that you aren't more than ten minutes drive from the coast.

The photo shows a couple of small boats in the inner part of Portrush harbour. The outer part is empty in winter. In late autumn a crane is brought to the quayside and all the boats are lifted out of the water. They go off to their winter storage and return in the spring to be lowered into the harbour again.

Sandelford Bridge

2009-02-08T19:44:00.005Z

This is a view of Sandelford Bridge, commonly known as "the new bridge".
I suppose it's the case in any town with two bridges - one must be the old, while the other is the new.
The photo was taken from Christie Park.

There was some snow to-day - the first we've had, while it seems the rest of the country has been buried under a blanket of the stuff for the past week.
I'm afraid there won't be any pictures of snowbound Coleraine, as I was lazy and stayed in the house.

Swans

2009-02-06T12:37:00.003Z

A pair of swans live on the river beside the park. Last year's cygnet is still with them, but is rather more cautious about getting close to people.

Bridge

2009-02-03T13:50:00.009Z

Last Saturday I noticed that Ruby at York Daily Photo wrote about being self-conscious when taking photos - or, in her words, "feeling a twerp".
Several people had added comments to her post. They all agreed with what she had said.

I think that has been my difficulty in the past. I haven't taken enough photos because there were people around who might be watching what I was doing.
This wouldn't be a problem if I was on holiday abroad. It's just in my own town.
I think it's got something to do with the idea of being seen by someone you know. For some reason you expect a reaction along the lines of, "What's that eejit doing?"

As a result, this eejit took the above photo of the Bann Bridge in Coleraine while skulking among the bushes in Christie Park.
I suppose in future I should come out of the bushes or I risk being classified as some sort of weird pervert...