John McCrae was a Canadian Military Surgeon during he Great War. He is best remembered for his moving poem ‘In Flanders Fields’

Like the Ulster Division, The Newfoundland Regiment suffered heavy losses on 1st July 2016.

An overview of the Canadian contribution to the Great War. Many thousands of Ulster men and their descendants served with the Canadian forces.

A short article by Brian McConnell examining the story of one Ulster-Scots emigrant to the United States

Both Londonderry City and County were earmarked for English rather than Scottish settlement but the Irish Society experienced great difficulty in persuading Londoners to settle in Londonderry. In 1624 it was suggested that if English people were not prepared to settle voluntarily in the city, they should be coerced into doing so by issuing warrants to press and transport them there. On the other hand, trade with Scotland was always likely to be accompanied by an influx of Scottish settlers and so it proved.

During The War of 1812, or the ‘Second War of Independence’ as many Americans at the time called it, which began when the Americans invaded Canada, General Ross captured Washington, burning the White House in the process. His death some three weeks later was a ‘key’ event influencing Francis Scott Key when he wrote the lyrics of The Star Spangled Banner, later to become the US National Anthem.

July 4th 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the capture of Vicksburg by U. S. Grant – the great grandson of an Ulster immigrant who would go on to become the supreme commander of the Union forces and the 18th President of the United States.

A road sign for Tyrone in the Province of Ontario is a reminder of County Tyrone, one of the Counties in Northern Ireland or Ulster. It may be an indication that Canada’s settlement was effected by immigrants from Northern Ireland or Ulster but what was the role of Ulster Scots ?

It is difficult to find reading material about Orange Lodges in Nova Scotia. The historical geography of Canadian Orange Lodges by Cecil J. Houston and William J. Smyth entitled “The Sash Canada Wore” deals with all of Canada and therefore contains only a few details about Nova Scotia. There are some social and other studies which include material on Orange Lodges but they focus largely on Ontario or New Brunswick.

September 28, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant, an auspicious event which according to some news accounts is a cause for celebration. However, if your home was County Monaghan and you signed the Covenant, since the following years witnessed the division of Ireland it turned out not to be the powerful symbol your community had desired.

Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick, Lord of Galloway and self-proclaimed King of Ireland, was the younger brother of Robert Bruce, King of Scots. Described by one chronicler as ‘a little headstong and impetuous’ (an observation which could be regarded as something of an understatement), Edward Bruce had distinguished himself at the Battle of Bannockburn (24 June 1314). He was also a man of ‘vaulting ambition’ and little evident political acumen. In April 1315 he became heir-presumptive to Scottish throne. Although Robert did not have a direct male heir until 1324, the prospect of Robert Bruce dying without a direct male heir in 1315 would have been considered remote. Being heir-presumptive to Scottish throne was not commensurate with Edward Bruce’s ambition.

On 9 August 1910 assiduous readers of the News Letter may have encountered the following brief story (reproduced here in full) in their morning newspaper: ‘Yesterday evening Mr Harry Ferguson flew a distance of almost three miles over the Newcastle foreshore, in the presence of a large number of people. He rose near Dundrum Bar, and flew at heights varying from 50 to 100 feet, and alighted safely on a strip of sand near Blackrock. The crowds along the beach cheered lustily as the aviator passed. Mr Ferguson has now fulfilled his contract with the Sports Committee, and is to be congratulated on his very successful flight.’

Robert Quigg was born on 28 February 1885 in Carnkirk, a townland about two miles from Bushmills, between that town and Ballintoy...

Australia is the world’s leading producer of wool. In 2004/2005 25% of global woolclip originated in Australia. A key figure in the development of this still important sector of the Australian economy was an Ulsterman who became the largest sheep farmer in Australia.

Edward Carson had contracted bronchial pneumonia in June 1935 but by July he was out of danger. During this period Dr Charles D’Arcy, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, paid a visit to see his fellow Dubliner. Carson confided to the Primate, ‘I have seen much to shake my faith and what remains with me is no more than I learned at my mother’s knee: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ...”’. ..

Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, whose parents hailed from Boneybefore, near Carrickfergus, has many claims to fame. ‘Old Hickory’ (as Jackson was nicknamed on account of his legendary toughness) was the first president to be elected from west of the Appalachians...

The Seven Years’ War (1756-63) was the world’s first truly global conflict and the most stunningly successful war the British ever waged against France. They deprived the French of Canada and expelled the French from most of their possessions in India, West Africa and the West Indies. They also seized Manila and Havana from the Spanish. The Royal Navy devastated its European rivals. Compared to Robert Clive’s crushing defeat of Siraj-ud-Daula’s army at Plassey in June 1757 or James Wolfe’s posthumous victory at Quebec in September 1759, the events detailed here at Carrickfergus in February 1760 cannot be described as being of world historical significance. Nevertheless, as we will see, these events are not devoid of local interest and significance.