This is a “townland” outside Derry City, just North off the A6. The modern day village consists of a few cottages, farms and barns. The historical village was probably even smaller than this. All of the James Kilkie (1846) clan can
Winkles for tea
Whilst her husband Jimmy was at work Fairfields shipyards, and the weans were just growing up Ruby Kilkie needed a job to supplement their income, but needed it to fit in with the nursery and St Saviour’s primary school that
Police emergency
When my brother Bernie Kilkie was born in May 1961 it was a event that caused great celebration in our house. He was born at 1301 Govan Road (The Southern General Hospital) as were many Kilkies and then came back
On the buses
One of my favourite family stories was about my Grandad Bernard McKeever Halliday. The story goes that when he was a bus conductor on the Corporation buses after the war he got fed up with the driver starting the buses
Joining of the Kilkie clans
One of the problems with Family history for familes from Northern Ireland is that official sources are rare, particularly when you approach the beginning of the 19th century.One of the main aims of this family research is to join the
Gone fishing
This wee story is for my cousins in the Docherty families, the real fishermen in the Kilkie clan. Unlike some game fishermen I know, I was able to go fishing every weekend after only a short walk from our house
Glen Cinema disaster
In the afternoon of 31 December 1929, during a children’s matinee, a freshly shown film was put in its metal can, in the spool room, where it began to issue thick black smoke. Nitrocellulose film, as used at this time,
Fight for a lost dad
The son of a war casualty is fighting for his father’s name to be included on a memorial – more than 60 years after his death.Tom Kilkie’s family were devastated when dad James was omitted from a plaque dedicated to
Christmas at Lewis’s
Some of my favourite childhood memories were our annual outings to Santa’s Grotto in Lewis’s store in Argyle St, Glasgow. We always went on 8th December as it was a holiday of obligation and in those days Catholics had a
Brian met Subo
Brian (Robertson) bumped into Susan Boyle this week in Buchanan St, Glasgow. She was launching the Poppy Appeal for 2012. She was happy to pose for a photo. They were even wearing matching colours!! Robbie Kilkie
Bombs in Pollokshaws
My mother Annie Kilkie occasionally spoke of the war years in Pollokshaws. While Pollokshaws itself was spared any of the bombing it nevertheless had to contend with air raid sirens, drills, and sleepless nights in the shelters and bunkers. Most
Basketball Naismith
For anyone out there who is interested in the game of Basketball I thought I might give a brief history of my married name “Naismith” Many of you may know that the inventor of basketball was James Naismith from Almonte,
Are you dancing?
Derry Journal Published on Thursday 5 February 2009 The now retired dance teacher Lilian O’Moore recently collected a civic honour from the Mayor of Derry, Councillor Gerard Diver. The award was made in recognition of her contribution to the cultural and indeed
Two tellys Kilkie
My Uncle John Halliday was well known for his mechanical abilities and had many jobs based on these skills including being a TV repairman for DER and also being a car mechanic. While we were growing up he was always
Glenkeen
The Kilkie clan decended from John Kilkie (1780) were recorded as born in Glenkeen, Clondermot. Recent maps including Google show Glenkeen as an area in Waterside, ie on the eastern side of the Foyle. Historically Waterside was the protestant part of
Geography of Londonderry
All the known Kilkies living in the early 19th century were born within a few miles of the city of Derry and the county of Londonderry/Derry. An understanding an knowledge of the various names and their meanings will help anyone