After a hugely successful talk at Largs Museum, Gordon Black is continuing with a series of on-site talks about Halie Neolithic Tomb! Three talks in March, starting at the entrance to Douglas Park, where Gordon will walk with visitors up to the Neolithic Tomb and tell the story of this fascinating part of North Ayrshire history. The talks are being …
Hugh Drennan – Interview
The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian. Hugh Drennan signed for Meadow in season 1954-55. After breaking into the team he helped Meadow win the Western League Cup, the Irvine & District Cup and the Western League Championship, beating Auchinleck Talbot 1-0 after a 4-4 draw in the …
The Story of the Sinking of S.S. Blairgowrie is now in the Stories Section
We have added another bit of naval history to our ‘Stories’ section, this time the sad tale of the sinking of S.S. Blairgowrie, which was sunk by a violent hurricane in the North Atlantic on the 27th of February, 1935. Seven of the crew were from North Ayrshire. Four were from Ardrossan, one from Saltcoats, one from Largs and one …
The Tombsters and Haylie Neolithic Tomb
The Haylie Neolithic Chambered Cairn in Largs is looking great. When I first arrived in Largs some four years ago it was in a sad state: overgrown, fence down and no interpretation board (there had been one but it had rotted away). What I didn’t know was that local historical enthusiast Richard Topping was on the case. And through his …
Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin Visits Ayrshire
On the 11th of February 1967, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin visited the UK and his trip included a 14 hour visit to Scotland. In this trip he visited Glasgow, had a tour of Hunterston Power Plant in North Ayrshire, visited Troon to have lunch at the Marine Hotel and watched Kilmarnock v Rangers at Rugby Park. Prior to kick-off, Kosygin presented the captains of …
Haylie Neolithic Tomb Talk at Largs Museum
On the 24th of February at 2pm (it was previously scheduled for 7pm but has been changed) Gordon Black of the Haylie Neoltihic Tombsters is presenting a talk on the history of the tomb at Largs Museum. The talk will last around an hour and there will be time for questions to be asked also. Entry is by donation. This …
50 New Stories Have Been Added to the ‘Stories’ Section
As a Christmas present to our readers, we added 50 new stories to the ‘Stories‘ section of our website, from all around North Ayrshire and on a huge variety of topics! From the history of the Cumbrae War Memorial and West Kilbride Village Hall, to tales of the 1913 Strike at Nobel’s Factory and the Storm of 1912. Perhaps you’d …
Joe Cassidy Interview – “I Once Stopped 3 Penalties”
The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian. Joe Cassidy was a fine goalkeeper who later became a local businessman. He joined Meadow in 1965-66 and played so impressively that he was capped for Junior Scotland against Ireland in 1968. Readers who don’t know Joe as a footballer may …
The 1880 Lifeboat Rescue of the Matilda Hillyards is Now in the Stories Section
Yet another story has been added to our ‘Stories’ section and it is a daring tale from the sea’s at Ardrossan! In 1880, the barque ‘Matilda Hillyards’ departed Ardrossan Harbour en-route for Yarmouth. 4 miles outside of the Harbour, the ship was caught in a violent storm and sent out a signal requesting assistance. The Ardrossan Lifeboat crew was called …
Johnny McIntyre – “Captain Courageous”
The following post was kindly submitted to us by Gordon McCreath, who is a keen Ayrshire junior football historian. Johnny McIntyre, who passed away on Saturday, 24th January 2015, was one of the most successful players ever to pull a Medda jersey over his head. He featured in three of Irvine Meadow’s Scottish Junior Cup finals; two as a player, …