PROGRESS

 

 Planes trains and cranes

 

Decided to walk into Coventry city centre during the week and stopped at the new railway station to check out the changes . This station was the first view I had of Coventry when I arrived here in 1960 and the changes are immense. The city has also had a new council house now located near to the railway station . I used this railway during my first year in the city commuting to Birmingham 5 days a week. In those days Coventry was known as 'car city' but the times are changing and who knows what the next phase of technology will bring but it will almost certainly be progress.

 

 W/K  5  BROAGH

 

Monday 25th returned from stay in Ardboe with my sister Mary and husband Mick and  decided we would head off to Ballycastle.

After 10 minutes we  were surprised to see nephew Ciaran with his brother John and wife who had also made the same trip.  Small world.

Ciaran had recently come home from Australia for a visit and John from Portugal .

One evening there was a music session at my brother Hughs in the garden - Ciaran, John, Aidan and Paul played various tunes and Aidans wife also joined in -  it lasted a few hours.

went on a few danders to the relatives and on Sunday ended up at Seans for dinner and watched Coventry draw with Sunderland

So the holiday was just about finished -  the longest period of time spent back home since I left for England in 1960.

     week 4 Broagh

Monday 18th was warmer than previous days.

Went to Terrances house for dinner.

To Cathal McOscars in the evening for 2 hours - Cathal went on his training run in prep for the Iron Man which was due to happen next month in Cork.

Tuesday 19th - Angela drove me to Magherafelt to prearranged meet up with John Brennan ( we were at the Rainey school together in the 50s) - we spent more than an hour over a meal chatting about old times and other things. Not often you get to meet a living legend - since John retired from playing Rugby and Gaelic football he turned to managing Gaelic football teams - the records show that he won 10 county championships with 5 different clubs in counties Derry, Tyrone and Antrim  - as sporting achievements go this is up there with the best.

Went to Ardboe on 21st to my sister Marys and stayed for 4 days

 

 wk 3 in the Broagh

w/k comm 11th July

Went to the Seamus Heaney Home Place in Bellaghy with sister Mary and her son Eamon.

Followed this with a walk out to Lough Beg  through which the river Bann passes on its way from Lough Neagh to the sea. 

On friday 14 attended funeral at St Johns Milltown for brother in law Kevins sister.

The world athletics championships started15th in Oregon USA - this meant a few late nights ahead.

 

 Church Island in Lough Beg        (click to enlarge)