Mickey McIlhatton became one of the best-known characters associated with Glenravel and the Glens of Antrim. He was remembered as a fiddle player, poitín maker and colourful local personality, and was sometimes referred to as the “King of the Glens.” His reputation came largely from the illicit spirit he produced. Poitín was traditionally distilled away from the eyes of the authorities, and Mickey became known for his ability to make it and, just as importantly, to avoid bei

This house and mill complex is so much more. It was once the family home of the McClures. Three siblings who grew up here, each going on to follow a very different path one connected to astrology, another a professional pianist and another to the running of the beetling mill. Their lives may have taken different directions, but together they left a lasting mark on this place and its story. And this weekend, the mill doors are opening again. You’ll be able to step inside and

For more than 60 years, generations of pupils walked through these doors. Opened in 1962 as St Paul’s Intermediate School, the campus later became St Paul’s Junior High before forming part of St Ronan’s College in 2015. When the new £56 million St Ronan’s campus opened in 2025, this old school finally fell silent. With the school being empty a while and on the outskirts of town vandalism pretty much destoryed everything. Even through this there was still space for some dece

Five years ago, I was given permission to photograph a beautiful listed house that had once belonged to a man named Robert. I never had the opportunity to meet Robert. This was not simply an empty house. It was a portrait of a man. The rooms contained a wonderful collection of antiques, shelves filled with unusual and fascinating books, and small personal details that revealed something of the person who had lived there. In the kitchen, packets of seeds from different trees h

Behind Ireland’s old prison walls are stories of punishment, power, execution and lives almost forgotten. At Armagh Gaol, whose history reaches back to the 18th century, I’ll explore its darker chapters including the executions carried out there and the connection with renowned hangman Henry Pierrepoint 😱 At Omagh Gaol House, we’ll uncover the extraordinary story of Constable Thomas Montgomery and the murder case that ended at the gallows. We’ll also step inside the historie

There are some places you plan to visit. Then there are the ones you simply stumble across. We were on our way back from another location when, through the trees, we spotted something that made us stop, chimney stacks rising above the trees. We went straight into reverse! What we found hidden behind the woodland was a substantial old mansion, its history stretching back centuries and its present-day appearance almost completely concealed by nature. The building has been al

I first visited this place 11 years ago, and returning now felt just as overwhelming. Known to many as Asylum X, St Brigid’s Hospital in Ballinasloe is one of the most striking psychiatric institutions in Ireland. Even standing outside it, the scale is difficult to take in. But once you step inside, the endless corridors, vast wards and silence begin to tell a much bigger story, tied not only to architecture and abandonment, but to the lives of thousands of people who once pa

This Saturday I’ll be out uncovering the forgotten stories, hidden streets and characters of Dromore and Lisburn. If you enjoy local history, old buildings and discovering the stories hiding in plain sight, you can join me for one or both of this week’s Heritage Saturday walks. Dromore Walking Tour – 1PM Saturday 22nd August Meeting Point: Dromore Market House £12.50 per ticket Have you heard of Lisburn’s forgotten streets? We’ll explore the stories, landmarks and hidden hist

Hidden within the peaceful surroundings of Rashee Old Cemetery in Ballyclare stands one of County Antrim's most unusual historic buildings the Mort House, built in 1831 during a time when newly buried bodies were at risk of being stolen. The Mort House In the early 19th century, resurrectionists, or body snatchers, targeted fresh graves, stealing bodies to sell to medical schools for anatomical study. To protect their loved ones, families could temporarily place coffins insid

Hilden Mill Lisburn available as a pair of prints in our shop