STEPPING STONES the Newsletter of the South Lough Neagh Area

STEPPING STONES The Newsletter of the South Lough Neagh Area Autumn 2011 South Lough Neagh Wetlands – a heritage cross and around this globe own area, each is under attack only protect existing territories on which we all live and from the forces of man on the one the world wetlands organisa- Ashare our existence wetland hand and, to a greater degree, the tions, through the medium of the region, whether large or small, forces of world climate change on RAMSAR Conference, are currently have now become recognised as the other hand. fighting an ongoing battle to actu- regions of importance. World wetlands are a diminish- ally save many endangered wet- While each may be unique to its ing feature and in efforts to not land areas around the globe. What is Ramsar? aims “to promote the Ramsar takes its name from conservation and wise use the first International World of all wetland resources Wetlands Conference held through local, regional, and in the town of Ramsar in national actions, and by Iran in 1971. From the intensifying co-operation original 17 initial signatory among all users and stake- nations at the first confer- holders. ence that number has now grown to 160 (inclusive of Why are we listed? the UK and the ROI). Our area is listed because - The total list of protected 1. We have on our door- worldwide wetlands now step the largest freshwater numbers 1,888. Of these, lake in the UK 21 are in Northern Ireland 2. The lake is fringed by and Lough Neagh, inclusive beds of species-rich damp shore is home to a range of and 2 rare butterflies. of the South Lough Neagh grasslands rare invertebrates 8. The lough itself supports Area Wetlands, is one of 3. Pockets of cut over bog 6. The area supports large the unique fish population, the important areas on the support unique plants and colonies of water birds, the pollan list. fauna both local and migratory 9. The area supports in 4. Over 40 rare local 7. The loughshore region quality a wide diversifica- What are the aims of vascular plants have been supports 12 species of tion of special fauna Ramsar? identified dragonfly also a number of 10. It is important for The Ramsar Conference 5. The Lough and lough- rare beetles, 7 rare moths tourism and recreation An area to be proud of As an area of unique freshwater ecology the South Lough Neagh basin can be termed without doubt as an area of which we can all be justifiably proud. ough Neagh, situated in the ter they in themselves being im- its slipways and boat moorings on centre of Northern Ireland, is portant channels for migratory fish the local canal, there is ready and Lthe largest freshwater lake in stocks with the river banks being a safe access on to the lough itself for the British Isles. It covers an area of recognised habitat refuge for fauna boating enthusiasts. some 380 square kilometres, being and wildlife. A little further long at Bannfoot 30.5 km long and 12.1 km wide. For This southern loughshore basin is where the river Bann enters the its size the lake is very shallow hav- also blessed by having a number of Lough, wildlife abounds. ing a mean depth of only 9 metres, ‘man assisted’ places of environment Under the control of Craigavon being only 35 metres at its deepest interest. To the west we have Peat- Borough Council the excellent facili- point. It is this shallowness that adds lands Park, managed by The Environ- ties at Oxford Island by the Kinnego to its uniqueness in its support of ment Services Agency for N.I. Here, Embankment provide birdwatchers diverse wildlife species and fauna. ready access pathways are provided with very accessible hides and unre- The basis of this support, and fish for access onto wide tracts of spent stricted viewing points. stocks in particular, lies largely from bog and fenland. By way of plank For the more adventurous, going the Lough being the nurse bed for boardwalks and supported paths, further east, the satellite Portmore abundant annual summer hatches of visitors can explore this ancient Lough is an area rich in habitat and pollen fly, or better know as simply moorland having also access to Der- a haven for waterbirds. Areas of the Lough fly. ryadd Lough with its rich reed-beds unimproved wet grassland across Here on the southern shore, the and quiet retreats. the basin as a whole serve to add to ecology is added to by the feed wa- Maghery Park provides facilities to its distinctive importance as a world ters of the Rivers Bann and Blackwa- explore the loughshore, and with Ramsar site. 2 The Bard of the Boglands So often writing about nature, Teggart depicted among other things the “Yellow Bloom” He also collected the sights and sounds and even the smells of the area in such poems as, “When the Skylark Soars and Sings; The Montiagh Moss; The Wee Mosscheeper; Up The Ramper; Our Bogland Home; Turf Smoke,” and so many more. oses Teggart was known as His prose and poetry, written in some- Farewell, ye cold black bogs and the Bard of the Boglands. thing of a Burns idiom, are not only moors! MBorn in the crowded time capsules of a time gone by, but Goodbye, ye gold bloomed whins! townland of Ballinary Birches on the have left us, as it were pen painted Ye teach me how the love endures, shores of Lough Neagh in 1853, the pictures of rural life, exemplifying the That in friendship fond begins. son of a simple cotter tenant farmer natural ambience of the loughshore Goodbye ye little redbreasts all with apparent little prospects in life, and all its closeness to nature. Not That sing so sweet at dawn, Moses Teggart successfully applied only was Teggart an incurable roman- At dusk I hear your pensive call, himself to learning and academia so tic, he was a born naturalist. From his And shall when I am gone. as to leave an indelible mark through well-known poem The Bell of Ballinary Farewell ye kindly people all his distinctive writings in both prose through to such contributions as The In bogland and in town, and poetry. Daisies on the Brea, he excelled in Your friendship I esteem and shall Following his primary education at descriptive phrase. Till I this head lay down. his local Cloncore National School he Thanks to the tireless work of Dr John obtained a place through matricula- In that last sleep o’er which the dawn Wright, a complete volume of Teggart tion at the New Model School in Of heaven some morn will rise, prose and poetry has been published Belfast from where, after two strenu- When I, fond hope! Though some as an anthology. Dr Wright not ous years he became qualified as a time gone, only collected over 300 of Teggart's National School teacher. Shall join you in the skies. known works, but has put together a Following the opportunities of his gripping account of Teggart's colour- chosen profession he was able to Copies of the book MOSES ful life including an account of his sad work in, and travel to many places TEGGART - THE BARD OF THE death in 1909 when he died on board in Ireland, and furthered his experi- BOGLANDS can the SS Carthaginian on his way back ences in both Scotland and England. be purchased He eventually joined the Civil Service to the USA, following what was to be via the office in Scotland in the mid 1870s, but his last visit home to Ireland. He was of South Lough returned home to Ballinary in 1888 to buried at sea on 19th Feb 1909. His Neagh Regen- join the then fast flowing emigration poetry remains his sole memorial. eration. Tele- trail to the United States where he The last poem he ever wrote was phone no 028 took up work in the town of Spring- composed a few days prior to his final 38 852 550. field, Massachusetts. In reality, it was departure and it would seem that he Price £10, its at this period in his life - 1890/1909 had some premonition that his sands 400 pages in - that he flourished as a poet, having of time were running out. It was hardback and a wide range of his works published entitled ‘A Farewell’. colour is an weekly in both the Springfield and Though brief, it serves as a fitting offer not to Portadown newspapers of the day. epitaph. be missed. 3 STEPPING ON THE STONES OF TIME Members of the South Lough Neagh Historical Society enjoy a field trip day out to the Newgrange Iron Age historical site of Irish Kings. Migration studies Outside Mittens Cottage. The old Cross, Clones - Several visits to Clones have been made by the Society members. igration and Immigration have ince 2004 The South Lough Neagh in Co. Longford; trips to The Boyne Malways been highly Historical Society, based in the Valley Site and to Drogheda; to the debated features in Irish cultural SCommunity Hall at Maghery, cathedral and walls at Derry; to the life. To get to know more about has grown from strength to strength. O’Neill Grinnian, the ancient seat of the this topic, the Society engaged Dr Not only as an active historical society O’Neill’s of Ulster in Inishowen; and to Patrick Fitzgerald the well-know but as an example of good community The Centre for Migration Studies and historian and TV broadcaster, to relations at work, it is held very much in the Ulster/American Folk Park at Omagh.

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