Book captures the ‘Spirit of Broughshane’

A book of poems and songs which seeks to capture the very essence of the village of Broughshane is now on sale.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Dec 2013, 10:13 BST
Mayor of Ballymena, Cllr. Audrey Wales is pictured at the launch of the book "Spirit of Broughshane" along with (back row from left) Dean Bond, Lexie Scott (Chairman Broughshane Community Association), Frank Murphy, Wilfie Ramsey, James McIntyre and Ian Hall (Broughshane Community Association). Seated from left: Joseph McClintock, Cllr. Wales, Rene Houston and Billy McKelvey. INBT52-220ACMayor of Ballymena, Cllr. Audrey Wales is pictured at the launch of the book "Spirit of Broughshane" along with (back row from left) Dean Bond, Lexie Scott (Chairman Broughshane Community Association), Frank Murphy, Wilfie Ramsey, James McIntyre and Ian Hall (Broughshane Community Association). Seated from left: Joseph McClintock, Cllr. Wales, Rene Houston and Billy McKelvey. INBT52-220AC
Mayor of Ballymena, Cllr. Audrey Wales is pictured at the launch of the book "Spirit of Broughshane" along with (back row from left) Dean Bond, Lexie Scott (Chairman Broughshane Community Association), Frank Murphy, Wilfie Ramsey, James McIntyre and Ian Hall (Broughshane Community Association). Seated from left: Joseph McClintock, Cllr. Wales, Rene Houston and Billy McKelvey. INBT52-220AC

The volume was the brainchild of Mrs Renee Houston, a recent arrival in the village, having spent 60 years in the Glenwherry area, farming alongside her late husband Blair and raising a family.

Over that period she became aware of the richness of the mid-Antrim vernacular and how it was reflected in songs and verse.

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Her idea was enthusiastically adopted by the Broughshane and District Community Association and working together, a book has been produced , entitled “ The Spirit of Broughshane”.

This comprises some 60 poems and songs, covering a range of topics, some humorous, some reflective, all worth a little time.

The book costs £4 and Copies are available from Broughshane House ( Tel. 02825 862777) and James McNeill’s Hardware Shop, Broughshane.