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Ballymena Academy – Throwback Thursday

Ballymena Academy is a grammar school which was established in Ballymena in 1828. The school exists now on a large site on the Galgorm Road but it wasn’t always to be found in that location. Photo Source: Old Photos of Ballymena Ballymena Academy originally was situated off Thomas Street in Ballymena. The originally building was vacated many years before it was knocked down in order to provide a site which is now the Fairhill Shopping Centre. The red hands are borrowed from the Adair family arms, who gave the 1-acre (4,000 m2) of ground on which the original school was built, itself represented by the blue rectangle below. The ant represents hard work. The badger on the crest, accompanied by a lamp representing learning, is a pun on ‘Brocklamont’, site of the new school buildings, with ‘brock’ being an archaic word for badger. Sporting, academic, musical and other arts achievement are recognised by the award of a similar but distinctive coat of arms worn on the school blazer and also by the presentation of Honours Ties. The school motto is Tenax Propositi meaning Steadfast in Purpose. (Source) Click here to find out more about the history of the grammar school. Ballymena Academy is one of the many great schools which are located in...

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To Kill A Mockingbird – Throwback Thursday

The film To Kill A Mockingbird is due to be shown at the Braid Film Theatre on Thursday 24th September. Hot on the heels of the buzz which followed the release of the sequel in the form of the book Go Set a Watchman, the Braid Film Theatre that the 1962 film starring Gregory Peck as american lawyer Atticus Finch. Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel that takes place during the Great Depression. In this coming of age story, six-year-old Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and her older brother Jem have some difficult lessons to learn when their lawyer father...

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Throwback Thursday – Meetinghouse Lane

Meeting House Lane is Ballymena is instantly recognisable in this photograph from the Old Photographs of Ballymena Facebook page. Throwback Thursday – Meetinghouse Lane The picture shows First Ballymena Presbyterian Church on the right and looks towards the end of the street where there is now a roundabout outside St Patricks Church. First Ballymena Presbyterian Church originally (in 1850) had a distinctive tower as part of their building. This was classed as one of the Seven towers in Ballymena – The seven towers were: The tower of the Old Parish Church The tower of St Patrick’s The tower of...

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Throwback Thursday – The Flamingo Ballroom

The Flamingo Ballroom once hosted gigs by the biggest musical stars around. We have already blogged here about the Rolling Stones visiting Ballymena in 1964 and now we can share this picture of Rory Gallagher and blues band “Tailor”. Throwback Thursday – The Flamingo Ballroom This picture dates back to March 1970 and was submitted to the Rory Gallagher Facebook page by John Tennant who was the lead singer for the group. Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, and raised in Cork. He recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste during the late 1960s. He was a talented guitarist known for his charismatic performances and dedication to his craft and his albums have sold over 30 million copies. Here is an iconic live recording of Rory’s hit Bad Penny which shows off his amazing guitar skills. Sadly Rory passed away in June 1995 from complications after a liver transplant. The Flamingo Ballroom was one of the most popular places in Ballymena to enjoy live...

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Ballymoney Road – Throwback Thursday

This week our throwback Thursday is this old photograph of Ballymoney Road in Ballymena. Looking towards the pentagon this picture show the old State cinema on the right (which we have written about here) and the trees planted outside the courthouse on the left. Although the State Cinema is now gone there are businesses such as the Adair Arms Hotel and Solicitors James Ballentine and Son still work in the buildings at the end of this road. Ballymoney Road – Throwback Thursday This photograph is from the Old Photos of Ballymena Facebook Page. To see more Throwback Thursday blog posts...

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