President Andrew Jackson's Ulster Ancestral Home Tour
This is my tour of the President Andrew Jackson Cottage, Boneybefore, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. Boneybefore village is the ancestral home of the parents of President Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States of America. (1829-1837); 1st Governor of Florida Territory (1821-1821); US Senator from Tennessee (1797-1798; 1823-1825); Major General in the US Army; Fought in War of 1812 and Seminole War.
Andrew Jackson's parents lived here in Boneybefore for a number of years in the mid 1700s before the family set sail in 1765 for a new life in South Carolina in the United States. Andrew Jackson's parents were Andrew Jackson (d. 1767) and Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson (d. 1781), originally of Carrickfergus and immigrants to the United States. They had three sons: Hugh, Robert, and Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). Jackson's father died before he was born.
The original Jackson home in Boneybefore was demolished in 1860 to make way for the introduction of the railway. This Jackson Museum cottage was also built in the 1750s just a few hundred yards from the demolished Jackson cottage. It is of similar Ulster Scots style. It has been restored to its original state including an open fireplace with a daub and wattle canopy and hanging crane. The interior has been decorated as a traditional cottage with a dresser, sponge wear crockery and iron pots and griddles. A recent make over cost £ 250,000. This provided the cottage with a new thatched roof, damp proofing and under floor heating.
( Look for the blue plaque about 50 metres to the west that marks the site of the original Jackson homestead. )
In the grounds of the cottage is the US Rangers Centre, a museum dedicated to the men of the first battalions of the elite American Army Unit the US Rangers that was first 'activated' in Carrickfergus in 1942. The display includes documents, uniforms and photographs and other material detailing this famous combat unit.
Opening times!
Wed - Sun 11:00 - 15:00
Opening outside of these times can be arranged through Carrickfergus Visitor Information Centre
Price-Free!
President Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Centre
I've motorbiked to the north shore of Belfast Lough. I'm a mile outside Carrickfergus. I'm trying to get a look around the President Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Centre.
Unfortunately it was closed when I arrived ( July 18th 2018 )
When I looked through the windows I could see that the cottage had been stripped bare of all photographs, furniture and memorabilia. What was going on?
There was no notice/signage up of explanation to any visitor. When I checked on Discover Northern Ireland etc all seemed good to go. There was no mention of any problem about getting inside.
The lady living opposite the Cottage told me it was was closed because the roof was being rethatched. When we both looked there didn't seem to be anything wrong with the roof thatch.
So there you have it. A 20 miles ride out just to find the historic Andrew Jackson Cottage and US Ranger Centre all shut up with no explanation!
I wondered how visitors who had especially come a distance from would feel when they arrived to find the Cottage closed up. This was a very poor show.
( I've just read this article in today's Belfast Newsletter 19th July. The cottage and Ranger Centre will be closed for 'conservation' work until next May. -Almost a full year!
link )
I can't see the Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Centre being open again any time soon. It probably won't open until next year at least.
President Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Centre
Located less than a mile from the Town Centre, off the Larne Road, the Andrew Jackson Cottage is a traditional thatched Ulster-Scots farmhouse built in 1750s.
This cottage is one of about twelve cottages built in this style when there was an influx of lowland Scots people into S.E. Antrim. This cottage was built by the Donaldson family and lived in by them until 1979 when it was sold to Carrickfergus Borough Council.
It has been restored to its original state including an open fireplace with a daub and wattle canopy and hanging crane. The original Jackson cottage was demolished in 1860 to make way for the railway. The interior has been decorated as a traditional cottage with a dresser, sponge wear crockery and iron pots and griddles. The centre has an impressive exhibition on the life and career of Andrew Jackson (1767- 1845) 7th President of the United States of America whose parents emigrated from here in 1765.
In the grounds of the cottage is the US Rangers Centre, a museum dedicated to the men of the first battalions of the elite American Army Unit the US Rangers that was first 'activated' in Carrickfergus in 1942. The display includes documents, uniforms and photographs and other material detailing this famous combat unit.
Look for the blue plaque about 50 metres to the west that marks the site of the original Jackson homestead.
Fool's Haven Home of Ruddick Millar Titanic Orphan
I am at Boneybefore just outside Carrickfergus. I came to Boneybefore to try and see round the famous President Andrew Jackson Cottage ancestoral home. Unfortunately this museum and the US Rangers Centre behind it was closed. I am told that yje cottage requires rethatching.
Anyway I noticed a very similar mid 1700s, white washed, old thatched cottage, less than 100 yards further along the Boneybefore road.
This cottage called Fool's Haven, proved to be the home of Titanic orphan, Ruddick Millar ( 1907-1952 ) who was a journalist, author and playright. The historic cottage has been honoured with a Blue Plaque.
' A PLAQUE to honour Titanic orphan and renowned Ulster author William Ruddick Millar has been unveiled in his native Carrickfergus. The former News Letter reporter was orphaned at the age of five when his father, a deck engineer on the Titanic, was killed. The Titanic liner struck an iceberg in the north Atlantic on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. It sank on April 15, 1912, resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people in one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history. Mr Millar was orphaned as his mother had died in January 1912. Susie Millar, his grand-daughter, yesterday said: “Our entire family are so proud to have him remembered in this way.” The author of Stirabout, When Johnny Comes Marching Home and The Land Girl was raised in Fool´s Haven Cottage in the Co Antrim village of Boneybefore following his father´s death. The plaque was unveiled yesterday at the cottage where he was raised by his great aunt. Ms Millar, herself a journalist, said in spite of her grandfather´s dire start, “he went on to live a very successful life”. She said: “My grandfather was just five years old when he was orphaned by the loss of Titanic. “He and his older brother Thomas were sent to live with their great aunt, Mary Millar, in Boneybefore. “She already had eight children and it was a tight squeeze in their small cottage. “Both boys were paid a small allowance by the Titanic Relief Fund, but I am sure it took some time for the paperwork on that to come through.” By the age of 18, one of Ruddick Millar´s plays was being performed at the Grand Opera House in Belfast. He continued to write plays for stage and radio, newspaper articles and books until his death aged 46 in 1952. Ms Millar said her grandfather´s account of his father “sailing away on Titanic and how he found out about the sinking as he sailed his own paper boat in the stream at Boneybefore has provided one of the fullest depictions of the effect of Titanic´s loss on an ordinary family”. The story has since been re-written by Ms Millar in the book The Two Pennies. She said: “The Millar family is delighted that my grandfather has been recognised in this way more than 50 years after his death.'
“His writings portrayed a slice of Ulster life in the 1930s as well as capturing the deep sense of loss after the Titanic´s sinking. “He was the only author in the 1930s who was talking and writing about Titanic.” Mr Millar´s daughter Gillian was among family members who attended the unveiling. The plaque was unveiled by Northern Ireland representative of the Maritime Heritage Committee, Alliance Sean Neeson. Also in attendance were Belfast Titanic Society president John M Andrews and Doreen Corcoran, Ulster History Circle. Ms Millar said: “My Aunt Gillian was able to tell us tales this morning about my grandfather´s parties. “Even though he had such a terrible start to life, he had a good sense of humour throughout and he made the best of it.”
Fools Haven is where two local children, orphaned by the Titanic tragedy, were brought up. They had been sent to live in Fools Haven, with their Aunt, when their father sailed onboard the Titanic as an Engineer on that fateful maiden voyage to New York in April 1912. There were eight children already living in the Cottage, the addition of two more made ten.
Susie Millar is the great granddaughter of the Titanic Engineer and granddaughter of Ruddick Millar – Titanic Orphan, Journalist, Author and Playwright. She has published a book ‘The Two Pennies´ A true story from the Titanic. It tells the true story of the Millar family and offers a unique insight into how the tragedy affected ordinary lives, in particular those of Thomas Millar´s two sons.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was the seventh President of the United States (1829–1837). Born in what is now the border between North and South Carolina, Jackson served in the militia during the American Revolutionary War. After the war, he returned home to serve as a country lawyer, and in 1796 played a role in the founding of the state of Tennessee. Subsequently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and then to the U. S. Senate, Jackson was in 1801 appointed colonel in the Tennessee Militia. During the War of 1812, Jackson won important victories at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, and then at the Battle of New Orleans. After the war was over, Jackson's army transferred to Florida where they deposed the Spanish garrison that guarded the peninsula. This led directly to the Adams–Onís Treaty, which formally transferred Florida from Spain to the United States.
Nominated for president in 1824, Jackson narrowly lost to John Quincy Adams. In anticipation of a rematch with Adams, Jackson's supporters then founded what became the Democratic Party. Nominated again 1828, Jackson won a decisive victory against Adams in an election so negative that his wife Rachel Jackson died of a stroke late in the campaign due to attacks against her. His struggles with congress were personified in his personal rivalry with Henry Clay, whom Jackson deeply disliked, and who led the opposition (the emerging Whig Party). As president, he faced a threat of secession from South Carolina over the Tariff of Abominations which congress had enacted under Adams. In contrast to several of his immediate successors, he denied the right of a state to secede from the union, or to nullify federal law. The crisis was defused when the tariff was amended and Jackson threatened the use of military force if South Carolina (or any other state) attempted to secede.
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Trump has a statue of Andrew Jackson!
Trump has a statue of Andrew Jackson
Today Sen. Mitch McConnell introduced President Trump for his press conference during which he compared Trump to Andrew Jackson.
President Trump has a large mural of Andrew Jackson in the Oval Office. He stopped and spoke about it during last nights ABC interview with David Muir.
President Trump mentioned comparisons between his election and Andrew Jackson's. Though it would seem Trump's favorite former POTUS is Abe Lincoln, perhaps Andrew Jackson is #2.
Jackson ran on the platform of Kill the banks. He was opposed to a central bank. Jackson, Lincoln and Kennedy all worked to get rid of the central banks. Gunmen took shot at each of them. Anyone who tries to end the tyranny of the central bank will need the help of the masses.
I am a fan of Andrew Jackson and this definately implored me to take notice big time of Trump. If he really is what he says he is then he may go down as one of the greatest Presidents of all time. He will be incredibly popular. I hope he isn't playing us. I am going to give him my support in any way I can for now. I hope you do too.
Brian Kennedy - Carrickfergus
The following is excerpted from our 2015-16 Season on American Public Television - Brian Kennedy - Recorded on location at The Andrew Jackson Centre in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Whitehead | County Antrim | Blackhead Lighthouse | Belfast Lough | Discover Northern Ireland
Whitehead is a beautiful seaside town in County Antrim on Northern Ireland's east coast looking out on the opening to Belfast Lough. it is situated about 14 miles from Belfast City between Carrickfergus and Larne.
Before the Plantation of Ulster WHitehead was known as Kinbaine, from the Irish Cionn Bán, meaning 'the white head'. Whitehead in Northern Ireland has a population of around 3,800 as of the 2011 census.
County Antrim's east coast gem, Whitehead offers beautiful coastal scenery overlooking the mouth of Belfast Lough. Whitehead offers a lovely family day out at the seaside, where you can go sailing, fishing or walking. There is much to see and do in Whitehead.
Whitehead is near to Blackhead Lighthouse. There is a coastal path that brings you from Whitehead and up to the lighthouse around the rocky coastline. The path runs northeast from the seaside town of Whitehead to and around Blackhead lighthouse. The path is lined with grassland and interesting wildlife and their habitats on one side and Belfast Lough opening out to views of Scotland on a clear day on the other side.
With a colourful seafront, Whitehead is a welcoming and charming town on Northern Ireland's east coast. Accessible via train Whitehead is home to the Whitehead Railway Museum. Officially opened in 2017, the museum combines past and present modes of transport from today's locomotive to the steam engines made in the 1800s. The exhibition is inclusive and informative and fully accessible via wheelchair.
Whitehead also has plenty of restaurants and eateries for all the family, plenty of coastal views and walks to breathe in the fresh, sea air and enjoy with all the family.
If you are interested in finding out more about Whitehead and the things to see and do there, head over to our website:
connollycove.com
If you want to find out more about other attractions in Northern Ireland, Ireland and beyond click the links below:
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Stunning view from Cavehill, Belfast.
Amazing view from Cavehill looking over belfast & belfast lough
A formerly strife-torn UK city is now one of the world's top tourist destinations, according to a leading travel guide publisher.
In little more than a decade, Belfast has been transformed from a fractured city into a hot city-break .
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'Paedophile hunter' sting caught on camera - BBC News
Police have said they may have to work with paedophile hunters after new figures revealed a rise in their evidence being used in court. Figures obtained by the BBC show 11% of court cases in 2014 for the crime of meeting a child following sexual grooming used evidence from hunters, rising to 44% in 2016.
Southampton-based Stephen Dure, known as Stevie Trap, has seen his evidence used in three court cases this year following stings.
In one case, he posed as a 14-year-old boy when chatting to Robert Babey who is due to be sentenced later this month after admitting multiple breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
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Irish American | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Irish American
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
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The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Irish Americans (Irish: Gael-Mheiriceánaigh) are an ethnic group comprising Americans who have full or partial ancestry from Ireland, especially those who identify with that ancestry, along with their cultural characteristics. About 33 million Americans — 10.5% of the total population — reported Irish ancestry in the 2013 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. This compares with a population of 6.7 million on the island of Ireland. Three million people separately identified as Scotch-Irish, whose ancestors were Ulster Scots and Anglo-Irish Protestant Dissenters who emigrated from Ireland to the United States. However, whether the Scotch-Irish should be considered Irish is disputed.
Irish Americans | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Irish Americans
00:00:47 1 Irish immigration to the United States
00:00:58 1.1 17th to mid-19th century
00:05:21 1.1.1 Irish in the South
00:08:46 1.2 Mid-19th century and later
00:11:14 1.2.1 Civil War through early 20th century
00:18:37 1.2.2 Language
00:21:08 1.3 Occupations
00:25:05 1.3.1 Local government
00:26:14 1.3.2 Police
00:27:34 1.3.3 Teachers
00:28:57 1.3.4 Nuns
00:30:13 2 Religion
00:31:24 2.1 Irish Catholic and Irish Protestant relations
00:35:11 2.2 Catholics
00:40:46 2.3 Protestants
00:41:49 2.3.1 Presbyterians
00:44:58 2.3.2 Methodists
00:45:54 3 Discrimination
00:48:37 3.1 Stereotypes
00:52:06 4 Sense of heritage
00:54:27 4.1 Cities
00:59:19 5 Notable people
00:59:28 5.1 In politics and government
01:03:00 5.2 Political leanings
01:08:52 5.2.1 American presidents with Irish ancestry
01:17:10 5.2.1.1 Vice Presidents of Irish descent
01:17:48 5.2.1.2 Other presidents of Irish descent
01:18:05 5.2.2 Irish-American Justices of the Supreme Court
01:18:41 6 Contributions to American culture
01:24:28 7 Sports
01:25:26 7.1 Baseball
01:27:02 7.2 Gaelic sports
01:27:28 8 Entertainment
01:28:42 9 Irish-American communities
01:29:56 10 See also
01:30:50 11 Notes
01:30:58 12 Other sources
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Irish Americans (Irish: Gael-Mheiriceánaigh) are an ethnic group comprising Americans who have full or partial ancestry from Ireland, especially those who identify with that ancestry, along with their cultural characteristics. About 33 million Americans — 10.5% of the total population — reported Irish ancestry in the 2013 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. This compares with a population of 6.7 million on the island of Ireland. Three million people separately identified as Scotch-Irish, whose ancestors were Ulster Scots and Anglo-Irish Protestant Dissenters who emigrated from Ireland to the United States. However, whether the Scotch-Irish should be considered Irish is disputed.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge , is the wife of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Following his father Charles, Prince of Wales, William is second in line to succeed his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as monarch of 16 Commonwealth realms.
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