REMINISCENCE & ORAL HISTORIES
With support from a number of funding agencies we are embarking on a programme of recording history through oral and video accounts. Our projects cover the most significant and interesting historical and heritage related events, places and people in and around Portrush.
APPS & PODCASTS
In July 2019 through funding from Big Lottery Heritage Fund, The Department of Communities and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council we launched a Portrush Heritage Trail called “Discover Portrush”.
The “Discover Portrush” Heritage Trail comprises 21 Trail Markers and 8 Relaxing Locations around Portrush where trail-followers can read or listen to information about the History of Portrush. There is a free Guide Book which can be obtained through the Tourist Information Office and a free Digital App called “Discover Portrush” which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
The Heritage Trail App contains 15 voices with our professional trail guides Sarah Travers, Anne Marie McAleese and Stephen Watson being supported by local voices, Kerry Gregg, Canon John Mc Kegney, Kate Murphy, Charlie Metson, Raymond Mc Mullan our Ulster Scot Voice, Nina Mc Neary, Elloit Huston, Mark Mitchell from the RNLI, John Mc Nally, Hugh Mc Grattan and our oldest voice Roy Hardyman who recalled the 507 Parachute Infantry Regiment famous 1943 Christmas Party in Barrys before leaving for D’Day.
Planned for launching in Spring 2021 through funding from The Royal and Ancient’s Legacy Fund we are creating our second App called “Young Explorer Portrush” or YEP! This App will have audio and ground / aerial videos of adventures around Portrush with professional / amateur actors and experts engaging our “Young Explorer’s” in the rich history and heritage of Portrush and its surrounding areas. The App will have a teacher zone with all curriculum info to help teacher’s with their planning and recording, and a kid’s zone which has easy to navigate, topic related, age appropriate information.
In response to the challenges Covid 19 has placed on our face-to-face activities eg Heritage Evenings, Pirates Festival etc we launched in March 2020 a series of weekly Heritage Newsletters that has served to reach out to members and the wider public. We also have prioritised the completion of our Website and development of our other social media channels. These measures being part of our programme to extend our digital reach through live-streaming of events with podcasts on local heritage & history. It will also allow us to create a wider audience from ex-pats or others who have a connection with and a love for Portrush.
In August 2020 and through funding from the Big Lottery Heritage Fund we have been able to purchased audio / video recording equipment and technical support for the creation of the Podcasts and Live Streaming of Events.
