No rest for the Devil in Ballymartin
The Antrim Line at Ballymartin, County Antrim
Above folklore has it that the reason why so many of the wall and gate pillars in Ireland have such pointed tops is that this is to make it uncomfortable for the Devil to rest and therefore linger so moves on.
The Ballymartin Massacres related in a new book By Joe Graham
The Killing Fields Of Templepatrick
By Joe Graham
Over the years I have written a number of publications and special little themed booklets such as this. Whilst the Rushlight Magazine has been the focus of my attention in sharing events from yesteryear; light hearted yarns, ghoulish tales, and stories from history that I felt would be interesting to the reader, occasionally I have unearthed a series of events from history which I've felt deserved a complete booklet to be dedicated to them. The Killing Fields of Templepatrick is a tale that deserves to be told. The truth of history deserves to be made known.
The events included in this publication were so poignant and compelling to me, it was as though they begged to be told, as though the voices of those involved were crying from the earth. Standing on the spot where the massacre had occurred, was a defining moment in my decision to write this story.
My heart allowed me to see the events of that night unfold before me. The screams of the women and children became audible to me; the sight of the flames and destruction became visible and I knew that this story had to be told.
Those of you who know my work know that my preferred style in which to impart knowledge of historical events is to tell a story and I would like to share a most solemn and deplorable tale here. This is a story of massacre and destruction. It is a true story set close to Templepatrick in the area of Ballymartin, likely a little known area to most people not from that vicinity.
The story itself is one which those who have lived their entire lives in the area are unaware of, yet the spot where the main events took place is bypassed by thousands on a daily basis; completely oblivious to the history of the surrounding countryside. This work has not been compiled for any reason other than my own passion for sharing historical truth.
To see the bastardisation of history frustrates me. This is a story of the massacre of a small, defenceless community whose existence has been deliberately omitted from history. It is one that should resonate loudly as it urges us that we should never forget, this is my attempt to ensure they are never forgotten
Griffiths Valuation of Ireland 1861-1862 - Ballymartin, County Antrim
Agnew Samuel Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Armstrong Henry Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Barrett Joseph Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Biggar Joseph G. Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Bill John Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Bill Samuel Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Birkmire Thomas Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Boyd James Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Brown Eliza Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Butler Patrick Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Callon John Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Campbell Hugh Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Carr William J. Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Colgan John Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Coulter John Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Culbert John Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Davidson William Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Douglas Paul Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Duffin James Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Fee Robert Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Fleming James Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Fleming James, Jr. Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Fleming John Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Fulton Samuel Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Gormal Jane Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Gorman James Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Gorman John Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Gourley Robert Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Graham Robert Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Greer Andrew Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Grier James Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Hamill John Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Hamill Robert Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Hawthorn Alexander Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Henderson William Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Hunter Henry Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Hunter Mary Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Hunter William Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Hutchison Robert Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Ingram Jane Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Ingram Samuel Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Irvine George Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Jameson James Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Kennedy James Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Kerr Sarah Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Lamertin William Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Lockhart James Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Mairns Mary Anne Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Mawhiney James Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Mawhiney Robert Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Burney Arthur Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Burney James Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Call James Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Cammon William Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Clenahan Samuel Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Grath Patrick Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Ilrath James Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Ilrath James, Jr. Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Ilroy Andrew Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Ilwain William Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Knight Samuel Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Knight William Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Meikin Robert Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Meikin Robert Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Meikin Samuel Ballymartin Ballymartin Antrim
Mc Whinney Samuel Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Neilly Samuel M. Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
O'Neill John Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Price George Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Price Samuel Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Price Thomas Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Reid Sarah Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Shannon John Ballyhartfield Ballymartin Antrim
Shaw Francis Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Skelton John Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Smith Edward Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Spence William Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim
Stephenson John Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Stephenson Thomas Ballypalady Ballymartin Antrim
Templetown Viscount Toberagnee Ballymartin Antrim