Children from Glenarm P.S. and St. John's Carnlough have researched Straidkilly Clachan. Below we have presented some of their work.

I Interviewed My Dad

Lying on the hillside above the coast of Glenarm is the village of Straidkilly. Most people call it the ‘Slipping Village.’ The slipping of the village is because of the rock structure of the area.

I interviewed my dad and he told me the chalk cliffs lie on soft clay. During very wet weather, regular streams of mud may be seen sliding down on top of the Coast Road. At one time workmen were employed solely to keep this part of the road clear. These workmen were known as slipmen and my dad was one of them when he was younger.

By Philip (Glenarm P.S.)

Francisan Friary and Straidkilly in the 1400s

In a magazine called The Glynns in 1987 a man called Hector Mac Donald gave a lot of interesting information about Straidkilly. For instance in 1445 the Franciscans were granted permission to build a church in Seraide Kaill. This permission came from the Pope. Hector also suggested that the 'killy' part in Straidkilly could refer to 'cill' meaning church, instead of 'coill' meaning wood.

By Ciaran and Gerard (St. John's, Carnlough)

Meta McKillop

Meta McKillop was born and reared on a farm two miles above Carnlough. She had to walk to school because they had no cars 66 years ago. All the cooking was done in an old stove. There was no electricity and no water in the house. Water was brought from a nearby stream. There were no coals for the fire or the cooker. Turf was cut and harvested from their own mountain.

Meta’s mother baked all the bread and their own cows supplied the milk and the butter. A pig was killed each winter and most of it was cured with salt. This supplied the family with bacon and ham all winter. They grew all their own fruit and vegetables. Jam was made and fruit was bottled. Every Sunday Meta’s mother killed a chicken and made a pot of vegetable broth. Their own potatoes were used every day for dinner.

By Paul (Glenarm P.S.)

Mass Rock at Straidkilly

This is a piece from the book of Diocese of Down and Connor by Rev. J. O'Laverty which was published in 1878. It mentions the existence of a mass rock at Straidkilly. "Mass was celebrated on a sheltered stone at the 'Priest's Knowe' near Straidkilly. The spot is between the old and new roads from Glenarm to Cushendall, bounded by the old road, and a few perches off the new cutting".

By Shane and Ryan (St. John's Carnlough)

Toys and Games

In Straidkilly, children went into the woods (which is now a nature reserve) to get sticks to make kites. They collected Hazelnuts and played with conkers. They got old bicycle wheels and took the spokes out. They rolled it down the hill and chased it.

By Megan (Glenarm P.S.)

Horses

Bayview houses are built on a horses’ graveyard.

The horses were used for pulling limestone carts from the quarry.

When knackered the horses were shot and buried at Straidkilly.

By Shelley (Glenarm P.S.)