Author of a recent book on Sir James Chichester-Clark, Sir James Chichester-Clark, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Clive Scoular will challenge some of the well-worn, but often ill-founded, ideas about the province’s premiers. He will reveal some of the lesser known details about the men and will also dispel some of the myths and false assumptions that attach to several of them.

The first of the six was Sir James Craig, father figure of the state, whose best work was achieved before he became Prime Minister, as right-hand man to Sir Edward Carson. The last was local man Brian Faulkner, whose stewardship came to an end with the introduction of direct rule in March 1972.

The second was John Andrews, brother of the ill-fated Thomas, designer of the Titanic. Andrews saw the arrival of US troops into Northern Ireland and was in office during the blitz. The third was Sir Basil Brooke, later Lord Brookeborough, the Fermanagh landlord credited with the founding of the B Specials. Brookeborough had been a steady minister of agriculture during the war, but coasted as Prime Minister. He had three sons, two of whom were killed fighting for their country.

Terence O’Neill is best known for initiating the reforms which he hoped would attract the minority community, but his commitment eventually proved lacking. James Chichester-Clark, who many felt almost bumbled into power after being elected by one vote over Brian Faulkner, thus becoming the first elected prime minister, actually put more reforms onto the statute book than O’Neill. As a young man, Chichester-Clark had a distinguished military service. He was badly wounded at Anzio and later became ADC to Lord Alexander of Tunis.

Since retiring from the Health Service, Clive Scoular has been lecturing in Queen’s University’s Institute of Lifelong Learning since the 1970s. He is a well known commentator on Irish history and is an expert on the Easter Rising.

Horace Reid’s talk focuses on the Second Earl of Moira. The Earl was a leading Irish Whig and was the ideological rival of local political heavyweights, the Lords Downshire and Castlereagh. He was opposition spokesman on Irish affairs and was in favour of removing the causes of disaffection. He had liberal attitudes towards the excluded Ulster Presbyterians and Irish Catholics.

He took a prominent role in the Irish House of Lords in exposing army excesses in the prelude to the ’98 Rising. He had a rather more personal stake in proceedings at Ballynahinch. His mother was in Montalto House and had to be evacuated quickly before the rebels arrived and occupied the estate. The house was set on fire during the ensuing battle.

Although Moira was in opposition he was very much a member of the establishment, having fought against French revolutionary forces in Belgium and Holland. He had proved himself an excellent soldier during the American War of Independence and was regarded as one of the few good generals in the campaign. In addition to Montalto he maintained houses in Dublin and Donnington Park in Leicestershire.
The Earl’s distinguished political career included candidature for Prime Minister after the assassination of Spencer Percival in 1812. After his failure to gain the premiership he took on the job of Governor General of Bengal, a demanding post encompassing British colonial interests from Suez to Manila.

Horace Reid has written and lectured on the 1798 Rebellion in the Ballynahinch area and is the author of the popular Walk Around Ballynahinch.

Everyone is welcome to the talks and admission is free.

For further information contact:

Pamela McCrory
Branch Library Manager
Saintfield Library
Ballynahinch Road
Saintfield BT24 7AD
T: 9751 0550

OR

Sean Beattie
Information Team Librarian
Downpatrick Library
Market Street
Downpatrick
BT30 6LZ
T: 4461 9651
e-mail: dptklib@hotmail.com