The Montague's

Larry Montague's Memories of Ballyknock

As a young boy of seven my parents sent me to my Aunt Mamie's home in Ballyknock to avoid the sectarian riots of 1935-1936 which were raging in Belfast. I was too young to understand the gravity of events that were taking place and therefore quite happy to enjoy the freedom and adventure which the beautiful countryside offered.So commenced my love affair with Ballyknock, the jewel of fair Kilwarlin, nestling in the fertile valley of the river Lagan. Unfortunately my stay was all too brief as the situation in Belfast rapidly deteriorated.Our house was burned down and my parents were forced to run for their lives and take refuge in a safer area (i.e. occupied mainly by Catholics). Click here to read more of Larry Montague's Memories of Ballyknock.

Aidan Montague's Memories of Ballyknock

My earliest memories of Ballyknock were waking up on Christmas morning to find my new toys spread across the big settee by the open fire. My parents always made Christmas day a magical experience.We would troupe off to midnight Mass on Christmas eve in the old Kilwarlin church and when Mass was finished we would emerge into the crispy frost, or sometimes snow and head home to the freshly cut Christmas tree surrounded by presents.My mother would have baked the Christmas cake many weeks before and the family washed it down with copious amounts of ginger wine - what it lacked in alcohol it made up for in bucket loads of sugar. Click to read on more of Aidan Montague's memories of Ballyknock.