On a beautiful sunny September morning, P6 and P7 enjoyed a very informative historical walking tour of Portaferry. Our guide was none other than local retired school Principal Seamus Dorrian, who provided the children and adults with interesting tales of shipbuilding, rope making and the rich industrial past of our town. We learned about the Savages and the Nugents (New Gents) and many other local names like McMullan and Dumigan and the mark their footprints have made on our history.
We imagined what life was like along the shore at the Saltpans, the rich people who came to stay in the 3 hotels in the town and the waters of Strangford Lough as tall ships sailed in daily.
We learned of rich and famous people connected to Portaferry, including actor Joseph Tomelty and a local man who had a ticket to sail on the titanic which he had bought for 5p but was sick and unable to use it … years later a descendant found the ticket and it was sold for £34,000!
There are so many places and things that we walk or drive past everyday that we never even notice … it was great to take the time to look, see and imagine the Portaferry of the Past.
Go raibh míle maith ágat from P6 and P7 Séamus.
