The Ulster Linen Triangle: an Industrial Cluster Emerging from a Proto-Industrial Region Marcel Boldorf

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Ulster Linen Triangle: an Industrial Cluster Emerging from a Proto-Industrial Region Marcel Boldorf 3 The Ulster Linen Triangle: An Industrial Cluster Emerging from a Proto-Industrial Region Marcel Boldorf Whether Northern Ireland can really be regarded as an example of a successful transition into the age of industrialization is the subject of some academic debate. Researchers who take the situation of the whole country into consideration, especially focusing on the Great Famine of the 1840s, tend to a hold onto a rather pessimist view. Particularly, when the Irish development is compared to British industrialization, the effects of de-industrialization and the peripheral state are highlighted (Ó’Gráda, 1988). A variation of this is to speak of ‘Ireland’s industrial decline in the nineteenth century, outside eastern Ulster’ (Clarkson, 1996, p.83). This view takes into account the rapid growth of the linen industry in a specific part of Ulster, the northernmost of Ireland’s ancient provinces. One cannot deny that the history of the Irish has been strongly linked to hunger and pauperism, primarily in sectors such as hand-spinning which, at a certain stage, lagged behind in productivity, thus suffering a slump in earnings (Ollerenshaw, 1985, pp.67–9). However, there might be some evidence for more optimism regarding the province of Ulster, especially when its economic performance is compared to other cases in continental Europe (Boldorf, 2003). A full comparison with other European regions is not the intention of this contribution. The optimistic perspective is assumed as a starting point, and the aim is to present a more complete view of Irish industrialization. The chapter’s methodological foundation is built upon the concepts of industrial districts and clusters. The latter defines regions as geographic agglomerations of companies, or here linen producers, which are linked by externalities and complementarities of various types (Porter and Ketels, 2009, p.173). Again, the two competing approaches cannot 25 26 Marcel Boldorf be discussed here in depth. Instead, the less contradictory and more general outlines of the two concepts will be at the basis of the argu- mentation: the concentration of industries within a region, forming a geographical agglomeration of industrial producers and suppliers. In order to explain the emergence of an industrial cluster, the following will present the various forms of regional trade activities and the organi- zation of production. It will be highlighted that industrial development depended on institutional factors which promoted internal develop- ment. The Northern Irish case is characterized by a major shift in textile production. From the last decades of the 18th century, a cotton machine- spinning cluster emerged which, from 1825 onwards, transformed into a linen cluster. The contribution is structured as follows: the first section describes the origins of the rural industries which were not only closely connected to the agrarian situation but also to political factors. Then, the analytical concept of regional industrialization will be applied to the particular example of Ulster, followed by explanations of the organization of inner-regional trade. Thirdly, the emergence of a cotton cluster within the region is analyzed, while lastly, the concluding section outlines its transformation into a linen cluster. Thus, the chapter provides an over- view of how 19th-century Northern Ireland became the world’s most important exporter of linen products. The foundation of the Irish linen industry Large parts of Ireland were not suitable for agriculture due to the land being infertile. However, sheep-farming was widespread and the produc- tion of woollens had a long tradition. In large parts of the country, the rural workforce was underemployed for several months of the year and a market-oriented production of frieze, a coarse woollen cloth which had been used for generations by Irish peasants for their own clothing, started in the second half of the 17th century. As export opportunities to England arose, auxiliary employment in the production of woollens increased. At the end of the century, around 30,000 Irish households were occupied in the rural woollen industry (Cullen, 1972, pp.23–4). At the same time, there was growth in the planting and production of flax, which was mostly spun into linen yarn and sold to Britain. The rural linen industries continued expanding in the 1680s. As part of the Plantation of Ulster, large tracts of land in the province were acquired by English or Scottish owners. As a result, the property rights of the local population were severely reduced: ‘One of the most important The Ulster Linen Triangle 27 and disastrous of the penal laws’ (Gill, 1964, p.24) of 1702 forbade the long-term leasing of land to the Irish Catholic population. Instead, the British government fostered long-term leasing to Protestant landowners in order – ostensibly at least – to give them the chance to improve the quality of the soil. But the new group of owners was more interested in speculation than in improving the agrarian situation. As a result, short- term leases to Catholic sub-contractors became a feature of Ulster. The impact of short-term leasing was permanent uncertainty among the leaseholders surrounding their income. Many of them decided to grow flax and earn their livelihood from spinning. Both activities could be easily financed up front – in contrast to sustainable farming. Very often, the profitable activity of linen weaving was added to the house- hold’s activities. This particular situation explains why the flood plains of the rivers Bann, Lagan and Foyle had considerable proto-industrial activity despite offering favorable conditions for agriculture. The assump- tion of the proto-industrialization theory that poor agrarian conditions explain the growth of rural industries holds true for only parts of Ulster (Kriedte, Medick and Schlumbohm, 1981, p.14). Stimuli from abroad promoted the further expansion of linen spinning and weaving. The first linen shipment to London was recorded in 1682 (Crawford, 1988, p.33). In 1696, the English government allowed the duty-free import of all sorts of coarse and white linens (Clarkson, 1989, p.261). In 1705, linen exports to the British overseas territories were permitted and Irish linen began to compete with products from central Europe in those markets. Another stimulus was the arrival of Quakers from northern England from 1650 onwards and, later, the immigra- tion of French Huguenots. Conrad Gill explains the location of linen weaving in northern Ireland primarily through their settlement (Gill, 1964, pp.20–2). William Crawford points out that linen weaving was practiced on 500 looms before the Huguenots’ arrival (Crawford, 1980). He wanted to put into perspective the role of potential entrepreneurs such as Louis Crommelin who in later parliamentary debates claimed to be the doyen of Irish linen manufacture. In any case, the density of Protestant settlement was highest in the counties of Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone and Londonderry, which later formed the core of the proto-industrial linen region. Local centers were towns such as Lisburn or Lurgan, to the west of Belfast. The foreign settlers brought important skills with them into the country, documented in Crommelin’s book An Essay towards the Improving of the Hempen and Flaxen Manufactures in the Kingdom of Ireland , published in 1704. The immigrants were impor- tant in two respects for Irish linen manufacture (Clarkson, 1989, p.260). 28 Marcel Boldorf Firstly, they introduced into Ulster the production of fine linens, damask and diapers. These innovations were utilized by a number of Lurgan bleachers such as Thomas Turner, James Bradshaw, John Nicholson and John Christy in the first decades of the 18th century (Crawford, 1980, pp.114–15). Secondly, they used their contacts with the parliaments of Dublin and London to improve the situation of linen manufacturing. In 1711, the Irish Parliament introduced the Board of the Trustees of the Linen and Hempen Manufactures of Ireland, the Linen Board (Corry, 1784). The Board’s task was to promote the manufacture of linens across the whole of Ireland. Mapping the linen region Shaping the industrial region of Ulster is more complicated than in other European examples because in the 18th century data on means of production (weaving looms) or employment (number of persons occupied with spinning or weaving) were not recorded for small terri- torial units such as districts, counties or parishes. So far, we have seen that with respect to linen manufacture, Ulster was obviously the most important among the four Irish provinces. It consisted of nine counties: Donegal, Londonderry, Antrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Armagh, Down, Monaghan and Cavan. But many indicators suggest that the linen region consisted of only five of these counties. At the very end of the proto- industrial period, when data on employment is available, the census of 1841 revealed that industrial employment was by far higher in Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone than in the other counties of Ireland (Clarkson, 1996, p.76). It can be assumed that the five counties were previously also the richest in terms of industrial activities. The clas- sification according to employment criteria is particularly unreliable in the Irish case because larger parts of the linen region offered favorable agrarian conditions. In Ulster, a type of weaver household was prevalent which included all stages of the production process under one roof: from flax growing and preparation to yarn spinning and hand-loom weaving. On the part of the cultivated land that was not needed for subsistence production, flax was grown. Spinning was a production stage that was always done by female household members, whereas the weaving looms were operated by men. It was the children’s and servant’s duty to do the preparatory and post-processing work around spinning and weaving. Circumstances changed when the shortage of land was intensified as a result of population growth. More and more families could not grow their own flax any longer and had to buy yarn on specialized markets.
Recommended publications
  • Official Guide 2020
    The Ladies Gaelic Football Association Est 1974 Official Guide 2020 6th April The Ladies Gaelic Football Association The Ladies Gaelic Football Association was founded in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, County Tipperary on 18 July 1974. Four counties, Offaly, Kerry, Tipperary and Galway attended the meeting. However, eight counties namely Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford, Galway, Roscommon, Laois and Offaly participated in the first official All Ireland Senior Championship of that year, which was won by Tipperary. Today, Ladies Gaelic Football is played in all counties in Ireland. It is also played in Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, South America and the USA on an organised basis. It is imperative for our Association to maintain and foster our supportive contact with our International units. Our Association in Ireland must influence and help Ladies Football Clubs Internationally and share the spirit of home with those who are separated physically from their homes and to introduce those who have no connection with Ireland to the enjoyment of our sporting culture and heritage. The structure of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association is similar to that of the GAA with Clubs, County Boards, Provincial Councils, Central Council and Annual Congress. The National President is elected for one term of four years and shall not serve two consecutive terms. The Association was recognised by the GAA in 1982. In the early years of its foundation, the Association used the rules in the Official Guide of the GAA in conjunction with its own rules. The Ladies Gaelic Football Association decided at a Central Council meeting on 7th October 1985 to publish its own Official Guide.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hand-Loom in Ulster's Post-Famine Linen Industry: the Limits of Mechanization in Textiles' 'Factory Age'
    Textile History, 35 (2), 178-191, 2004 The Hand-Loom in Ulster's Post-Famine Linen Industry: The Limits of Mechanization in Textiles' 'Factory Age' KEVIN J. JAMES This article explores conditions in the Ulster linen trade which sustained hand-loom weaving through the second half of the nineteenth century. In particular, it investigates the role and limits of technology in this process, and the impact of the American Civil War and its aftermath on mechanization. INTRODUCTION The historiography of the Irish litien trade in the second half of the nineteenth cen- tury has focused on its mechanization, while acknowledging the continuing presence of hand-lootn branches in the sector.' Generally, the structure of hand production in the Irish linen sector after 1850 has received less attention than tnechanized weaving, although there is a growing historiography on co-extensive hand- and tnechanized weaving in other branches of textile tnanufacture in the United Kingdotn.^ Partly this neglect of the hand-lootn results frotn greater interest in technological developments which so quickly transformed the spinning sector in the 1820s and 1830s.^ In spin- ning, the displacement of hand production by machine was relatively swift and com- plete — even the small demand in Ireland for super-fine yarn after the 1820s was largely met by imported hand-spun continental varieties.* Indeed, contemporary observers claimed that weaving was developing in the same direction — but their predictions of the hand-loom's obsolescence proved inaccurate and premature. In 1852, for instance, the Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory quoted J. MacAdam's comments in the Joumal of Design in which he predicted the hand-loom's demise: There are many reasons for believing that the future progress of the Irish linen trade will at least keep pace with its past development.
    [Show full text]
  • A Seed Is Sown 1884-1900 (1) Before the GAA from the Earliest Times, The
    A Seed is Sown 1884-1900 (1) Before the GAA From the earliest times, the people of Ireland, as of other countries throughout the known world, played ball games'. Games played with a ball and stick can be traced back to pre-Christian times in Greece, Egypt and other countries. In Irish legend, there is a reference to a hurling game as early as the second century B.C., while the Brehon laws of the preChristian era contained a number of provisions relating to hurling. In the Tales of the Red Branch, which cover the period around the time of the birth of Christ, one of the best-known stories is that of the young Setanta, who on his way from his home in Cooley in County Louth to the palace of his uncle, King Conor Mac Nessa, at Eamhain Macha in Armagh, practised with a bronze hurley and a silver ball. On arrival at the palace, he joined the one hundred and fifty boys of noble blood who were being trained there and outhurled them all single-handed. He got his name, Cuchulainn, when he killed the great hound of Culann, which guarded the palace, by driving his hurling ball through the hound's open mouth. From the time of Cuchulainn right up to the end of the eighteenth century hurling flourished throughout the country in spite of attempts made through the Statutes of Kilkenny (1367), the Statute of Galway (1527) and the Sunday Observance Act (1695) to suppress it. Particularly in Munster and some counties of Leinster, it remained strong in the first half of the nineteenth century.
    [Show full text]
  • Enhanced Belfast Campus Building User Guide Blocks BA & BB
    Enhanced Belfast campus Building User Guide Blocks BA & BB Welcome to the new Ulster University Belfast campus. This practical guide will help you make the best use of the design features, services and systems of the new facilities as well as providing you with useful contacts, maps and transport information. BUILDING ORGANISATION The first thing to note is that a new naming convention is being used for the Ulster University Belfast campus. The existing building, previously known as Block 82, is now Block BA and the new extension to this building is Block BB. Blocks BA and BB are linked from the 2nd to 5th floors. To gain access to Block BB you will need to enter through the reception control point at the ground floor of Block BA marked on the diagram below as (1) before crossing to your intended floor (2). Plant Room 08 Art Studio Workspace 07 Paint Workshop Link between Blocks Studios Wood Workshop Metal Workshop 06 Foundry Link between Blocks Mould Making Fine Art 05 Faculty Presentation Link between Blocks Edit Suite Silversmithing & Jewellery Student Hub 04 Link between Blocks Ceramics Access to Library 2 Student Hub 03 Life Room Print Workshop Print Studio Library 02 24h Computing Open Access Computing Student Hub Textiles Art & Design Research Head of School, Associate Head of School, Research Institute Director Library 01 Fire Evacuation and Assembly Points Textiles GREAT PATRICK STREET Temporary Art Gallery 1 STAIR 1 Reception LIFT Building Directory STAIR 2 Entrance Library YORK STREETBLOCK BA 00 BLOCK BB 1 BUILDING UTILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION • Daylight dimming is also incorporated Ulster University has a detailed energy and into the facility.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    Introduction GAA Games Development 2014 Annual Report for the Irish Sports Council GAA Games Development 2014 A Annual Report for the Irish Sports Council @GAAlearning GAALearning www.learning.gaa.ie Foreword Foreword At a Forum held in Croke Park in June 2014 over 100 young people aged 15 – 19 were asked to define in one word what the GAA means to them. In their words the GAA is synonymous with ‘sport’, ‘parish’, ‘club’, ‘family’, ‘pride’ ‘passion’, ‘cultúr’, ‘changing’, ‘enjoyment’, ‘fun’, ‘cairdeas’. Above all these young people associated the GAA with the word ‘community’. At its most fundamental level GAA Games Development – through the synthesis of people, projects and policies – provides individuals across Ireland and internationally with the opportunity to connect with, participate in and contribute as part of a community. The nature and needs of this unique community is ever-changing and continuously evolving, however, year upon year GAA Games Development adapts accordingly to ensure the continued roll out of the Grassroots to National Programme and the implementation of projects to deliver games opportunities, skill development and learning initiatives. As recognised by Pierre Mairesse, Director General for Education and Culture in the European Commission, these serve to ‘go beyond the traditional divides between sports, youth work, citizenship and education’. i Annual Report for the Irish Sports Council. GAA Games Development 2014 2014 has been no exception to this and has witnessed some important milestones including: 89,000 participants at Cúl Camps, the introduction of revised Féile competitions that saw the number of players participating in these tournaments increase by 4,000, as well as the first ever National Go Games Week - an event that might have seemed unlikely less than a decade ago.
    [Show full text]
  • Sion Mills to South of Omagh 113 2.4 Section 3 – South of Omagh to Aughnacloy 146
    Commission Reference: 2015/D003-D006 PUBLIC INQUIRY REPORT A5 WESTERN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR ROAD SCHEME NEWBUILDINGS TO AUGHNACLOY Report by Commissioners A Beggs, D Hannon and D O’Neill Date of Report: 24 May 2017 Commission Reference: 2015/D003-D006 This page is left intentionally blank Contents Commission Reference: 2015/D003-D006 CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements iii Plan Showing the Proposed Scheme’s Sections & Phases iv Alphabetical Index of Site Specific Objections v Background to the Report 1 Part 1: General and Strategic Issues 7 1.1 The Proposed Scheme 7 1.2 Policy Context 9 1.3 Justification for the Scheme 13 1.4 Alternatives to an Offline Dual Carriageway 23 1.5 Scheme Phasing 28 1.6 Alternative Major Offline Dual Carriageway Alignments, Linkage 33 with the A4, Extent of the Scheme at New Buildings, Junction & Bridge Design 1.7 The Environmental Assessment – General Matters 38 1.8 Air Quality, Emissions & Climate Change 43 1.9 Cultural Heritage 47 1.10 Landscape 51 1.11 Ecology & Nature Conservation 55 1.12 Geology & Soils 66 1.13 Noise and Vibration 68 1.14 Effects on Travellers 70 1.15 Community and Private Assets (Including Agriculture) 71 1.16 Road Drainage & the Water Environment 74 1.17 Interactions & Cumulative Effects 79 1.18 Consultation on the Scheme 80 1.19 Conclusion on the Environmental Statement and the Impacts of 82 the Proposed Scheme i Contents Commission Reference: 2015/D003-D006 CONTENTS continued Page Part 2: Site Specific Representations 2.1 Introduction 83 2.2 Section 1 – New Buildings to Sion Mills 84 2.3 Section 2 – Sion Mills to South of Omagh 113 2.4 Section 3 – South of Omagh to Aughnacloy 146 Part 3: Conclusions 3.1 Conclusions and Recommendations on the Orders 179 Appendices Appendix 1: Acronyms & Abbreviations Used in Report 181 Appendix 2: Core Departmental Documents Before the Inquiry 183 ii Acknowledgements Commission Reference: 2015/D003-D006 Acknowledgements We wish to thank the Programme Officers, Mr Christopher McCarron and Mr Stephen Andrews, for their professionalism and hard work before, during and after the inquiry.
    [Show full text]
  • The British Linen Trade with the United States in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings Textile Society of America 1990 The British Linen Trade With The United States In The Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries N.B. Harte University College London Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tsaconf Part of the Art and Design Commons Harte, N.B., "The British Linen Trade With The United States In The Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries" (1990). Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings. 605. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tsaconf/605 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Textile Society of America at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. -14- THE BRITISH LINEN TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES by N.B. HARTE Department of History Pasold Research Fund University College London London School of Economics Gower Street Houghton Street London WC1E 6BT London WC2A 2AE In the eighteenth century, a great deal of linen was produced in the American colonies. Virtually every farming family spun and wove linen cloth for its own consumption. The production of linen was the most widespread industrial activity in America during the colonial period. Yet at the same time, large amounts of linen were imported from across the Atlantic into the American colonies. Linen was the most important commodity entering into the American trade. This apparently paradoxical situation reflects the importance in pre-industrial society of the production and consumption of the extensive range of types of fabrics grouped together as 'linen*.
    [Show full text]
  • Revised-Fixture-Booklet2020.Pdf
    Armagh County Board, Athletic Grounds, Dalton Road, Armagh, BT60 4AE. Fón: 02837 527278. Office Hrs: Mon-Fri 9AM – 5PM. Closed Daily 1PM – 2PM. CONTENTS Oifigigh An Choiste Contae 1-5 Armagh GAA Staff 6-7 GAA & Provincial Offices 8 Media 9 County Sub Committees 10-11 Club Contacts 12-35 2020 Adult Referees 36-37 County Bye-Laws 38-46 2020 Amended Football & League Reg 47-59 Championship Regulations 60-69 County Fixtures Oct 2020 – Dec 2020 70-71 Club Fixtures 72-94 OIFIGIGH AN CHOISTE CONTAE CATHAOIRLEACH Mícheál Ó Sabhaois (Michael Savage) Fón: 07808768722 Email: [email protected] LEAS CATHAOIRLEACH Séamus Mac Aoidh (Jimmy McKee) Fón: 07754603867 Email: [email protected] RÚNAÍ Seán Mac Giolla Fhiondain (Sean McAlinden) Fón: 07760440872 Email: [email protected] LEAS RÚNAÍ Léana Uí Mháirtín (Elena Martin) Fón: 07880496123 Email: [email protected] CISTEOIR Gearard Mac Daibhéid (Gerard Davidson) Fón: 07768274521 Email: [email protected] Page | 1 CISTEOIR CÚNTA Tomas O hAdhmaill (Thomas Hamill) Fón: 07521366446 Email: [email protected] OIFIGEACH FORBARTHA Liam Rosach (Liam Ross) Fón: 07720321799 Email: [email protected] OIFIGEACH CULTÚIR Barra Ó Muirí Fón: 07547306922 Email: [email protected] OIFIGEACH CAIDRIMH PHOIBLÍ Clár Ní Siail (Claire Shields) Fón: 07719791629 Email: [email protected] OIFIGEACH IOMANA Daithi O’Briain (David O Brien) Fón: 07775176614 Email: [email protected] TEACHTA CHOMHAIRLE ULADH 1 Pádraig Ó hEachaidh (Padraig
    [Show full text]
  • The Settlement of Church Discipline Among Irish Friends with Special Reference to George Fox's Visit, 1669
    The Settlement of Church Discipline among Irish Friends With special reference to George Fox's visit, 1669. By ISABEL GRUBB N 1698 the National Meeting of Friends in Ireland asked some Friends to prepare an account of the rise and progress Iof the Truth in Ireland. Three MS. copies of this history still exist and I quote from one marked as having been checked and altered by William Edmondson and ten other Friends at the request of the National Meeting. Edmondson's handwriting can be recognised in the corrections. Under the date 1668 this book records: In this year it came into the hearts of some faithful friends, who were concerned for the welfare and prosperity of truth to appoint and set up general meetings for each province, once in every six weeks, as well for the edification and mutual comfort one of another, and knowing how friends were in their testimonies, as for regulating some things needful in the church; as in the case of the poor, to relieve them in their necessities, the decent and orderly proceedings in marriage, that all things might be clear, just and equal before the accomplishment, with other things of like tendency; the weight of which concerns much rested upon that faithful elder in the truth William Edmondson; whom the Lord hath been pleased to make instrumental not only in begetting many to the truth in this nation but that they might be preserved in faithfulness to it. and might walk answerable to the holy profession thereof, accordingly such provincial six weeks meetings were concluded of and settled among Friends in the said provinces of Ulster, Leinster and Munster, which so remains to this day.
    [Show full text]
  • (HSC) Trusts Gateway Services for Children's Social Work
    Northern Ireland Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts Gateway Services for Children’s Social Work Belfast HSC Trust Telephone (for referral) 028 90507000 Areas Greater Belfast area Further Contact Details Greater Belfast Gateway Team (for ongoing professional liaison) 110 Saintfield Road Belfast BT8 6HD Website http://www.belfasttrust.hscni.net/ Out of Hours Emergency 028 90565444 Service (after 5pm each evening at weekends, and public/bank holidays) South Eastern HSC Trust Telephone (for referral) 03001000300 Areas Lisburn, Dunmurry, Moira, Hillsborough, Bangor, Newtownards, Ards Peninsula, Comber, Downpatrick, Newcastle and Ballynahinch Further Contact Details Greater Lisburn Gateway North Down Gateway Team Down Gateway Team (for ongoing professional liaison) Team James Street Children’s Services Stewartstown Road Health Newtownards, BT23 4EP 81 Market Street Centre Tel: 028 91818518 Downpatrick, BT30 6LZ 212 Stewartstown Road Fax: 028 90564830 Tel: 028 44613511 Dunmurry Fax: 028 44615734 Belfast, BT17 0FG Tel: 028 90602705 Fax: 028 90629827 Website http://www.setrust.hscni.net/ Out of Hours Emergency 028 90565444 Service (after 5pm each evening at weekends, and public/bank holidays) Northern HSC Trust Telephone (for referral) 03001234333 Areas Antrim, Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey, Larne, Ballymena, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Portrush and Coleraine Further Contact Details Central Gateway Team South Eastern Gateway Team Northern Gateway Team (for ongoing professional liaison) Unit 5A, Toome Business The Beeches Coleraine
    [Show full text]
  • Ulster-Scots Policy
    Ulster-Scots Policy DCSDC Policy Document Number To be assigned Responsible Officer Chief Executive Contact Officer Irish Language Officer Approval Approved 2014 Effective Date April 2015 Modifications Version 3 Superseded Documents Ulster-Scots Policy 2013 Review Date April 2016 Intranet/policies & File Number procedures/corporate/ulster-scotspolicy Courtesy Code for Ulster-Scots Streetnaming and Property Numbering Associated Documents Policy 1. Preamble 1.1 Purpose This policy sets out Council’s commitments to facilitate and encourage the promotion and use of Ulster-Scots. This policy builds on Council’s commitments to celebrate linguistic diversity and to deliver equality of opportunity for all who avail of Council services. It also sets out Derry City and Strabane District Council’s legislative obligations along with details of procedures to be implemented. Page 1 of 11 Policy Name: Ulster-Scots Policy Derry City and Strabane District Council 1.2 Background According to the 2011 Census, 8.08% (140,204) of the population of Northern Ireland has some knowledge of Ulster-Scots. In the Derry City and Strabane District Council area 5.13% (7,266) of the population has knowledge of Ulster-Scots. The rights of Ulster-Scots speakers are protected in international legislation (in particular under the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities and The European Convention on Human Rights), but in addition to this, the British Government has signed The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages up to Part II for Ulster-Scots. The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages Part II of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages calls for resolute action to be taken to promote the use of Ulster-Scots in public and private life.
    [Show full text]
  • Co. Londonderry – Historical Background Paper the Plantation
    Co. Londonderry – Historical Background Paper The Plantation of Ulster and the creation of the county of Londonderry On the 28th January 1610 articles of agreement were signed between the City of London and James I, king of England and Scotland, for the colonisation of an area in the province of Ulster which was to become the county of Londonderry. This agreement modified the original plan for the Plantation of Ulster which had been drawn up in 1609. The area now to be allocated to the City of London included the then county of Coleraine,1 the barony of Loughinsholin in the then county of Tyrone, the existing town at Derry2 with adjacent land in county Donegal, and a portion of land on the county Antrim side of the Bann surrounding the existing town at Coleraine. The Londoners did not receive their formal grant from the Crown until 1613 when the new county was given the name Londonderry and the historic site at Derry was also renamed Londonderry – a name that is still causing controversy today.3 The baronies within the new county were: 1. Tirkeeran, an area to the east of the Foyle river which included the Faughan valley. 2. Keenaght, an area which included the valley of the river Roe and the lowlands at its mouth along Lough Foyle, including Magilligan. 3. Coleraine, an area which included the western side of the lower Bann valley as far west as Dunboe and Ringsend and stretching southwards from the north coast through Macosquin, Aghadowey, and Garvagh to near Kilrea. 4. Loughinsholin, formerly an area in county Tyrone, situated between the Sperrin mountains in the west and the river Bann and Lough Neagh on the east, and stretching southwards from around Kilrea through Maghera, Magherafelt and Moneymore to the river Ballinderry.
    [Show full text]