By Muriel Moore
Image © Irish News
I first met Éamon ten years ago when I joined one of his wonderful Hidden History courses, part of the Lifelong Learning offering at Stranmillis College while he was Head of Lifelong Learning there.’
That course was the Hidden History of South Belfast and began that day at Stranmillis College itself.
Éamon’s Hidden History courses involved visiting the places where history had happened. Each morning we visited a number of historic sites – walking between them – with an obligatory pause in a coffee shop mid morning.
The attendees hung on every word – he was so knowledgeable about the history of the places but most importantly brought the history to life with his anecdotes – and made us laugh.
We learnt about places such as Friar’s Bush Graveyard – Belfast’s oldest Christian burial site, which may date back to pre-Christian times and existed before Belfast was founded; and Cranmore, the oldest house in Belfast where King Billy stopped to rest on his way to the Boyne.
Those classes were great social occasions as well as being educational and many new and great friendships were made among us, which live on.
Hidden History courses
There were many other Hidden History courses too visiting different parts of Belfast and beyond and I later attended a course in central Belfast where we explored places such as Belfast’s entries, the Reform Club, Clifton House, to name but a few. We were also lucky enough to visit historic sites such as the Assembly Rooms – where not only was the Belfast Harp Festival held in July 1792, but also, in July 1798, the trial of United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken, who was condemned to be hanged just a short distance away at the junction of Cornmarket and High Street.
During the visit to the Assembly Rooms I had the privilege of playing on the flute an air that had been played on the harp in that building during the 1792 Harp Festival.
Later Éamon asked me to join him again in the Assembly Rooms and in Clifton House, and even in Downpatrick Jail, whenever he talked about the 1798 Rebellion of the United Irishmen. His talks were often for community groups, historical societies, and groups visiting from abroad. I played music of the time, in particular music from the Harp Festival, and Éamon encouraged me to give a short background to each air. I remember Éamon’s lovely gentle way of inspiring you to have more confidence in yourself and I personally will always be very grateful to him for this.
Historical day trips
As well as the Hidden History courses, Éamon organised many very popular historical day trips. I’m so glad that I experienced some of these coach trips, for example, touring County Down, the Glens of Antrim and South Armagh and visiting Dublin and Sligo.
I will always remember Éamon‘s generosity in passing on his knowledge of the history of the places we visited and the wonderful friendly atmosphere of his classes which emanated from him. Éamon’s warmth and kindness and infectious enthusiasm, always shone out and I am so grateful that I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to know him.