The popular Ulster-Scots magazine - Series 3
The popular Ulster-Scots magazine series* returns as Mark Thompson and Ruth Sanderson continue on their journey, exploring stories the length and breadth of Ulster. The six half-hour programme series is a celebration of the people and places at the heart of Ulster-Scots communities across the province. Showcasing craft, music, heritage, history and faith, all rooted in the townlands and villages their exponents call Hame.
The series explores and brings to life the stories of missionaries, castles and a heroic lifeboat crew, all with ties across the narrow sea to Scotland.
Episodes of interest relating to the history of Presbyterianism:
Episode 1 - Sunday 21 February - Now on iPlayer
Kicking off in the heartland community of the Braid Valley, Ruth discovers a Blacksmiths Forge which has been lovingly restored while Mark finds out about a minister Rev Alexander Peden on the run who hid out in the hills of Glenwherry.
Episode 2 - Sunday 28 February - Now on iPlayer
This finds Mark and Ruth in the seaside town of Donaghadee where they learn of the once booming harbour and how a young Amy Carmichael left its shores to become a world-famous missionary, finding a new home in India.
Episode 3 - Sunday 7 March - Now on iPlayer
This episode sees Ruth and Mark make their way to the Ulster-Scots heartland of Ballymoney, one of Ireland’s oldest market towns, brimming with stories and characters. Ruth discovers the founder of one of America’s largest chain superstores was also fiercely proud of his Ulster roots, while Jordan Mogey performs I Saw the Light and talks to Mark about the transatlantic story of music from his home place.
Episode 4 - Sunday, 14 March - Now on iPlayer
Throughout their travels, Mark and Ruth visit Ballyclare which was once the home of paper making in Ireland for over 200 years. Ruth meets with Rev John Nelson to learn more about South Antrim’s links with Scotland and a mighty revival that swept across the Six Mile Water Valley.
Episode 5 - Sunday, 21 March - Now on iPlayer
Mark and Ruth travel south to discover the ties between a Monaghan man Rev Hope Waddell and the hills of Jamaica, find out more about the first voice of radio in Northern Ireland and how a young lad from Monaghan went on to manage one of the world’s most famous football teams.
Episode 6 - Sunday, 28 March - Now on iPlayer
The final episode is set in Strangford, home to a host of birds, landmarks and a way of life captured in the Ulster-Scots words and phrases particular to the area. Mark catches up with Fergus Bell on the shores to hear how this place influenced his father, Sam Hanna Bell, and his work while Ruth visits Killyleagh Castle, still home to the Hamilton family who first moved there in the 1600’s.
* Broadcast on BBC Two Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD only.
See the Hame page on the BBC website.
See the Hame page on BBC iPlayer